Activists call on public to boycott Vodafone

Activists launched groups on the social networking site Facebook calling on the public to boycott Vodafone after the company forwarded defaming sms to its customers.
 
According to the group the messages sent, urged its clients not to vote in favour of candidates who raised the Muslim Brotherhood’s renowned motto "Islam is the solution" in the parliamentary elections.
 
The company however has denied it sent any messages.

With less than a month before Egyptians go to the ballots to vote for a new parliament, the government has imposed new restrictions on both media outlets and mobile phone service providers.
The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority informed private media institutions, including major newspapers, that they must now obtain a licence from the Ministry of Information and Supreme Press Council before sending news alerts to users.

Critics stress that the government is trying to clampdown on mass communication where Egypt has close to 60 million mobile phone users in an effort to prevent citizens from mobilising and coordinating during November’s election. According to analysts the Muslim Brotherhood is targeted since it made use of the SMS during the 2005 elections during its campaigns and succeeded in securing 20% of the parliamentary seats available.