THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A few Malayalis are among those who have been forced to leave the UAE over the last several months as a result of the Emirates’ intensified vigil against the social media strategy of Islamic State (IS) to pool cadres.
Top intelligence sources told DC that around five to ten Malayalis had returned after being spotted by the UAE intelligence sleuths for pro-IS activities on the social media. Two among them returned last week. But none of them had any direct links with the IS or any extremist outfits.
“So far we have no information of any Malayali being officially deported from the UAE for IS links or sharing pro-IS contents on the social media. But some Malayalis had returned over the last few months fearing police action, especially since those known to them are detained by the UAE intelligence sleuths for pro-IS strategies,” a senior police officer said.
According to sources, it is a sort of unofficial deportation. To counter the social media strategy of IS, the UAE and the US government had even launched a digital communication centre in Abu Dhabi in July.
Subsequently, those who are posting or sharing pro-IS contents on social media would be traced and quizzed.
If no direct IS links could be established, they would be advised to leave the country with assurance of protecting their identity.
The UAE intelligence sources will also pass on the information to their counterparts in their native countries. Some persons who were found to have IS links were also detained. But there was no information of any Malayalis among them.
DC had earlier reported that the intelligence sleuths in Kerala had also stepped up the vigil on social media in view of the strategy of IS to pool cadres and spread messages through the social media.
