ASTANA -- Authorities in South Kazakhstan Province Thursday (November 16) arrested 11 residents of Shymkent and neighbouring Sayram District suspected of encouraging terrorism and inciting religious hatred, according to the National Security Committee (KNB) of Kazakhstan, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)'s Kazakh service reported Thursday (November 16).
Those arrested were promoting the extremist ideology of the "Islamic State" (IS) and other terrorist organisations through social media and WhatsApp and Telegram messaging services, according to the KNB.
Officials found "extremist materials" in more than 20 networked communities with more than 400 participants, said the committee.
The investigation is ongoing, authorities said.
