The Daesh militant group has banned private internet connections in its de facto Syrian capital of Raqqa, forcing residents and its own fighters to use monitored internet cafes, AFP reported Monday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently both reported the new restrictions on internet access, posting pictures online of leaflets being distributed warning internet providers they had four days to cut Wi-Fi connections to their customers.
“The following is obligatory on all internet providers: the removal of Wi-Fi connections distributed outside of Internet cafes and private connections, including for Islamic State (Daesh) soldiers” the document reads.
The Observatory told AFP the new restriction is a move by Daesh to “impose a news blackout on what is going on inside Raqqa city,” and also to prevent potential defectors from establishing means for escaping the group.
