Sudan massacre – Brit student shot dead by militia while protecting women at peaceful protest as social media profiles turn blue in solidarity
A BLUE wave of solidarity is sweeping social media after a protester who came to university in Britain was shot dead protecting two women at a peaceful protest in Sudan.
Social media users are changing their profile picture blue, the favourite colour of Mohamed Mattar, a 26-year-old graduate of London's Brunel university who was killed last week.
Reports say that Mattar was shot by the brutal Rapid Support Forces militia while trying to protect to women from harm.
Violence erupted in April following the removal from office of Omar al-Bashir, the country’s strongman president of 30 years.
The military took control of the country in the wake of the ousting and launched a brutal crackdown on protesters demanding a transition to full civilian rule.
Mattar was killed during a peaceful sit-in demonstration that had massed outside the headquarters of the Sudanese military demanding that the armed forces had over power.
The hashtag #BlueForSudan has spread across social media platforms in tribute to the protester.
The blue profile pictures and the hashtag are also now being used as a symbol of solidarity with all Sudanese protesters.
Sarah al-Amoudi, a Yemeni Instagram user, told the website: “The blue profile pictures alone make people inclined to read why so many of us are blue. There is minimal news coverage for a country that is bleeding.”
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Instagram's story feature has been key to raising awareness of the violence, though internet access has been intermittent in parts of Sudan since it began.
In recent days, Sudan has experienced a “near total blackout” of internet services, as the military seeks to hide its crackdown on protesters.
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