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Afghan Taliban fighters listening to Mullah Mohammed Rasool, the newly-elected leader of a breakaway faction of the Taliban, in Farah province back in November 2015. AP/Press Association Images

Google takes down Taliban propaganda app

The app, which was designed to show news and videos from the group, was only up shortly before it was taken down.

AN APP DEVELOPED by the Taliban was removed from the Google Play store for violating a policy prohibiting hate speech.

The fundamentalist group released an app called Alemarah, was released as a way to show news and videos from the movement but was  taken down shortly after launching on 1 April, say the BBC.

A spokesperson for the group told Bloomberg that the app was “part of our advanced technological efforts to make more global audience,” but the app was removed from the store.

The group originally told Bloomberg it had removed the app to fix a number of “technical issues” and would reappear soon.

The Google Play business and program policies list hate speech as one of the things Google would remove an app or delete an account.

It says “we don’t allow the promotion of hatred towards groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/gender identity”.

Google didn’t confirm the exact reason for removing the app but told the BBC it “removes apps from Google Play that violate these policies”.

The app was discovered and reported by Site Intel Group, a US organisation that monitors jihadist activity.

The Taliban is an Islamic fundamentalist group based in Afghanistan, originally forming during the country’s civil war from 1996 to 2001.

In recent years, it has been making greater efforts in its online campaigning. Alongside its website and social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter, the group also have a channel on the encrypted messaging service Telegram.

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34 Comments
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    Mute Conor Treacy
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    Nov 25th 2018, 3:15 PM

    Interesting language used in the article. Terrorists are called rebels. The Syrian government is called the Syrian regime. It’s always good to hear what the ‘independent’ British backed Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have to say. It would be interesting to see the reaction of the ‘West’ if the Russians/Chinese started labelling the protesters in Paris as ‘freedom fighters’, started supporting them directly/indirectly in order to disrupt/displace the Macron government, met with them on the streets shaking hands and spurring them on, protested aggressive government actions on ‘peaceful protests’, etc a la Maidan in Kiev.

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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 3:20 PM

    @Conor Treacy: Nail on head,
    But sure it is no wonder the language used in these articles when they are all copied and pasted from AFP which is a French Government controlled news association.

    129
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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:00 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: Oh look, someone else who thinks ‘state-owned’ and ‘state-controlled’ are the same thing. Just because the two are mutually inclusive where you’re concerted, it doesn’t mean the same applies everywhere else.

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    Mute Cal Mooney
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:21 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Leave Harry’s terrorists alone. Did u not read yesterday that the english don’t consider ISIS a major threat anymore. Russia is the big bad wolf now. Saudi Arabia having killed 48,000 children in Yemen year to date are considered Harry and englands ally.

    53
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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:51 PM

    @Cal Mooney: “The English”? There hasn’t been an English state since the 1700s. Try and keep up Wally. And I’m still waiting for your examples of my having defended the Saudo regime.

    12
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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:16 PM

    Who to believe??….the Russians or Al-Qaeda.

    84
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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:21 PM

    @Derek Durkin: Neither!

    40
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:37 PM

    @Derek Durkin: Maybe if you and Charliegrl80 took your head out of the western media and read some other news sources you would both have a better understanding of what`s going on, but i won`t hold my breath on either of you bothering, keep drinking the Koolaid.

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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:40 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: Bore off comrade. RT’s that way, you’re on the wrong site.

    18
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:45 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Ah, There you are Harry, throwing in your pearls of wisdom as always..
    For a bloke with a bio saying he is interested in history, politics, linguistics and current affairs, It is pretty laughable when all your actions on this site are always just little wisecracks, insults or comments with no substance.

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    Mute Ryan Dub
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:50 PM

    @Derek Durkin: President Assad used chlorine, bombing civilians. The Russians, Assad’s ally, then use this to justify attacking a rebel group.

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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:51 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: “For a bloke with…” blah blah blah. Didn’t you say more or less exactly the same thing a while back, comrade?

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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:53 PM

    @Ryan Dub: So you are telling me that the Syrian army moved into the terrorists positions, fired a load of chlorine filled missiles on their own civilians into an area they hold, then moved back out giving the positions back to the Jihadis who waited patiently for the Russian air force to show up?
    Where do you buy your weed? It seems to be a lot better than anything i can get.

    83
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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:54 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: “read some other news sources”

    Translation: read something which refuses to criticise our Glorious Leader or his Aliies under ANY circumstance.

    14
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:54 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: You really should be put in between 2 fingers and squeezed………like any other whitehead

    58
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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 3:01 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: For a bloke who whines about “wisecracks, insults or comments with no substance” you sure have a funny knack for farting them out yourself. Making whitehead jokes though? That’s lame even by your pisspoor standards.

    15
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 3:04 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: You triggered hon?
    Not very nice when you slag someone off who turns out to be better at slagging than yourself, is it?
    Go have a wee lie down and a good cry

    41
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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 3:09 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: “turns out to be better at slagging” no comrade, that’s kinda the whole point. Never mind though, you keep telling yourself you’re Oscar Wilde reborn. Attaboy.

    11
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    Mute Michael Eric Devine
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    Nov 25th 2018, 3:29 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Harry grow up and drop the comrade crap, you come across clueless

    52
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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 3:56 PM

    @Michael Eric Devine: “Sorry, this content isn’t available right now” Mighty fine coincidence there, wouldn’t you say?

    8
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:00 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: He has the Idiot blocker activated on his Facebook profile, That`s why you can`t see it `arry

    28
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    Mute Michael Eric Devine
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:00 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: you are such a damn cliche. You have to be an especially arrogant and delusional person to believe Russian agents are being paid to argue against you (the hint is you don’t have an actual argument you’re just slinging shit)

    The absolute neck on you telling someone who raised a valid point the ‘other side’ is that way. You may have picked your side and chosen to unquestionably swallow all it presents, that’s entirely on you.
    You’re everything that’s wrong with debate in 2018

    45
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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:08 PM

    @Michael Eric Devine: “Cliche!” squawked someone from with a fake profile and a kneekerk defensive reaction to anyone dissing Uncle Vlad and his pet regimes. LOLz

    7
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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:16 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Harry give up responding you really are just making a fool of yourself

    33
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    Mute Fenian⚔
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:48 PM

    @Ryan Dub: if chlorine was used why have loads of people moved back into east ghouta
    when chlorine bombs are used it makes houses uninhabitable for years

    9
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    Mute David Jordan
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:48 PM

    Russia’s RT broadcast claims that French special forces were involved in the attact…

    “French special forces on the ground from where the missiles were fired”

    Now Russia, conviently, has Casus belli to begin it’s Idlib campaign.

    https://youtu.be/ApIhgFVa6-A?t=78

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    Mute Fenian⚔
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    Nov 25th 2018, 5:01 PM

    @Ryan Dub: army of islam and hayat tahrir al sham
    the media for some reason never mentions these terrorists groups names.
    they also infight alot and regularly change their names
    The last real legitimate rebel groups you could say, not the islamic jihad groups in idlib, surrendered under reconciliation agreements in june the only requirement was to hand over heavy weapons and ieds they were let keep their ak47s and mgs and most took the offer to integrate themselves in to a syrian army division as they weren’t active in fighting for 2 years.

    12
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 5:12 PM

    @David Jordan: Conveniently???
    They have held off for the last 2 months after a ceasefire was brokered, The headhackers haven`t lived up to their part of the ceasefire, firing indiscriminately and refusing to relinquish the heave weaponry and move out of the buffer zone Turkey helped set up.
    Russia and the SAA have every right to go on the offensive, as they are the only 2 legitimate forces in this war, but of course, you know all this already

    19
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 2:33 PM

    I can`t wait to see the French and US Tomahawk missiles to start raining down on these headhacking western backed terrorists over the use of chemical weapons…..

    107
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    Mute David Jordan
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    Nov 25th 2018, 4:54 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: Russia’s RT broadcast claims that French special forces were involved in the attact. This is grade A conspiracy rubbish.

    “French special forces on the ground from where the missiles were fired”

    Now Russia the Syrian government, conviently, have Casus belli to begin it’s Idlib / West Aleppo campaign. Russia and Syrian government forces have started bombing West Aleppo, breaking a months long ceasefire.

    https://youtu.be/ApIhgFVa6-A?t=78

    https://twitter.com/dannymakkisyria/status/1066647370115571713?s=21

    12
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Nov 25th 2018, 5:04 PM

    @David Jordan: And you know this to be rubbish because……

    Russia warned of chemical weapon in the hands of jihadis time and again over the last few months, there are reports that one terrorist group attacked another and took 2 cannisters of Chlorine from them a few weeks back, there are reports of chemical weapons being smuggled in over the turkish border to be used…
    It wouldn`t surprise me in the slightest if this report is true, UK, US and French ALL have special forces on the ground in Syria, and have done for quite a few years now

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Nov 25th 2018, 5:32 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: for what it’s worth, the syriancivilwar sub on reddit which is pro-Syrian government and pro-Russia, is very skeptical that an attack actually took place. West Aleppo has been bombed by Syrian government and Russia for the first time in 75 days in response.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/syriancivilwar/comments/a07tze/dozens_hospitalized_in_syrias_aleppo_after?sort=top

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    Mute brendan fitzsimons
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    Nov 25th 2018, 5:59 PM

    @David Jordan: Odd then that “The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights”, which has been relentlessly on the side of the “rebels” are confirming the chlorine attack.

    12
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    Mute David Jordan
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    Nov 28th 2018, 10:33 AM

    @brendan fitzsimons: They didn’t confirm a chlorine attack, they reported on claims of a chlorine attack. Anyway, here we are a few days later, and still no proof that a chlorine attack happened. No dead, no chlorine cannisters, no results of an independent investigation. 1the OPCW and UN have not been asked to investigate – Russia has gone quiet on the story, it’s now all forgotten about as if it didn’t happen. News later on suggests people panicked.

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    Mute iComment
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    Nov 25th 2018, 6:28 PM

    BBC and the Guardian still hold onto myth that these rebels are moderate and not Al Queada or IS….Within a few years of start of civil war the rebels became radical Sunni Jahadi backed by Saudi… Qatar and the US….

    29
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    Mute Christophe Walter
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    Nov 25th 2018, 10:10 PM

    The Russian Federation is not the same as the Communist led USSR. Under Putin, Russia has reinvigorated her Christian soul. The Western democracies can’t handle that. Where we in the West are witnessing constant attacks on Christianity, the same cannot be said about Russia.

    19
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