Rabat - Approximately 80 percent of Moroccan youth who have joined the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) were recruited through Facebook and Twitter, according to government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi.

Rabat – Approximately 80 percent of Moroccan youth who have joined the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) were recruited through Facebook and Twitter, according to government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi.

During the opening conference of the spring session of Center for Studies, Research and Social Sciences, Khalfi, who was Minister of Communication during the former term of the government, talked about the ways the digital revolution has allowed the recruitment of young people into international terrorist cells and networks as well as ISIS strongholds in Syria, Iraq and Libya.

The authorities have removed 377 Facebook and Twitter accounts over the past few months, said Khalfi, adding that there are individuals who use encrypted networks difficult for security services to monitor.

Khalfi, who is currently the Delegate Minister to the Head of Government for Relations with Parliament and Civil Society, went on to add that Moroccans made an advance in the usage of social media, recalling that more than 12 million are social media subscribers.

Minister of Interior Abdelouafi Laftit said earlier this month that 1,631 Moroccans have joined ISIS since 2012. They have relocated to areas including Iraq, Libya and Syria.

The number includes 284 women and 333 teenagers, of which he noted 558 have died so far. Two-hundred sixty-five have returned to Morocco, including 52 women and 15 teenagers.