Pakistan blocks Facebook over caricatures

[Lady Macbeth]

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) directed Internet service providers to block Facebook indefinitely on Wednesday because of an online competition to draw the Prophet Mohammad.

The order followed a decision by the Lahore High Court temporarily banning Facebook in Pakistan after the country's media reported that the competition would be held on May 20.

"The court has ordered the government to immediately block Facebook until May 31 because of this blasphemous competition," Azhar Siddique, a representative of the Islamic Lawyers Forum who filed a petition in the Lahore High Court, told Reuters.

"The court has also ordered the foreign ministry to investigate why such a competition is being held."

A spokesman for the PTA, the country's telecommunication watchdog, said the government on Tuesday ordered Internet providers to block only the Facebook page showing these caricatures. But on Wednesday the court ordered the entire Facebook site blocked.

Any representation of the Prophet Mohammad is deemed un-Islamic and blasphemous by Muslims.

By late afternoon, Facebook was unavailable to Pakistan's computer users, although Blackberries and other mobile devices appeared able to access the site.

But some warned the court's response could backfire.

"Blocking the entire website would anger users, especially young adults, because the social networking website is so popular among them and they spend most of their time on it," said the CEO of Nayatel, Wahaj-us-Siraj.

"Basically, our judges aren't technically sound. They have just ordered it, but it should have been done in a better way by just blocking a particular URL or link."

On the Facebook information page for the contest the organizers described it as a "snarky" response to Muslim bloggers who "warned" the creators of the Comedy Central television show "South Park" over a recent depiction of the Prophet in a bear suit.

"We are not trying to slander the average Muslim," the Facebook page creators wrote. "We simply want to show the extremists that threaten to harm people because of their Mohammad depictions that we're not afraid of them. That they can't take away our right to freedom of speech by trying to scare us into silence."

Publications of similar cartoons in Danish newspapers in 2005 sparked deadly protests in Muslim countries. Around 50 people were killed during protests in Muslim countries in 2006 over the cartoons, five of them in Pakistan.

Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Denmark's embassy in Islamabad in 2008, killing six people, saying it was in revenge for publication of caricatures.

Pakistan also blocked the popular video sharing site YouTube in 2007 for about a year for what it called un-Islamic videos.

Pakistan blocks Facebook over caricatures | Reuters

[Lady Macbeth]

Is this a start for the fans of FarmVille/ MafiaWars experiencing with-drawal symptons in Pakistan?

[Lady Macbeth]

By the way a question for Facebookers....when is 'Draw holocaust "accurately"/Golden Campass 2' day?

[arzu_tugcu]

Originally Posted by Lady Macbeth

Is this a start for the fans of FarmVille/ MafiaWars experiencing with-drawal symptons in Pakistan?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I`m a Turkish lady who resides in karachi currently...I have been an addicted player of farmville since 2009 August....Dealing around my farm ,earning point all are my great pleasure....Now,i`m unable to access my farm where all my crops will die....I`m very sad to be in this mood....Solutions from any side for farmville has not arrived yet which is the FB &Pakistani authorities...I believe no1 has got the right to make others feelings miserable....I`m talking here for my freedom of speech...Regards...:(((((((((((((((((((((

[vinod2070]

Originally Posted by Lady Macbeth

By the way a question for Facebookers....when is 'Draw holocaust "accurately"/Golden Campass 2' day?

How does holocaust come into the picture in this?

And if someone creates such a day, would that satisfy you and you would have no problem with the competition?

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

How does holocaust come into the picture in this?

And if someone creates such a day, would that satisfy you and you would have no problem with the competition?

You should think carefully about what lady is saying, well its wrong to promote the holocaust by making caricatures of those who suffered at the hands of nazis. Similarly its wrong to promote insulting caricatures against one of the major religions of the world with depicting the holy prophet of that religion. This is as plain as it gets, this is wrong and should be condemned by all who respect religion.

[vinod2070]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

You should think carefully about what lady is saying, well its wrong to promote the holocaust by making caricatures of those who suffered at the hands of nazis. Similarly its wrong to promote insulting caricatures against one of the major religions of the world with depicting the holy prophet of that religion. This is as plain as it gets, this is wrong and should be condemned by all who respect religion.

I do agree that both are wrong. However, two wrongs don't make a right!

I would still like to understand, why bring an unrelated issue of holocaust into this? I have seen too many people do this almost as a Pavlovian reaction (supposedly to point out Western hypocrisy).

Second, both these issues are as far as they can be. The caricature issue is about hurting the religious feelings of a group of people who believe its a sacrilege, the second is about a horrific event of recent history.

On my side, I think all people should refrain from insulting other religions.

[Zaki]

Saudi scholar Ghasssam Al-Ghain said Muslims should ignore such issues and focus on showing the world Islam in its true spirit, something that he said is not happening nowadays. "To market Islam we should apply the ethics we have learned and keep everything clean and pure," he said, adding that young Muslims should fight back by presenting a positive image of their countries, religion and Prophet. "Let the youth at least invest in and invent products that can keep us away from relying on their societies. Rather than focusing on wearing low-cut pants and showing their underwear in public, be men and useful members of society," he said. Al-Ghain said boycotts are useless as they could lead Western countries to stop selling important products, such as medicine and hospital equipment, to Muslim countries. "People who call for boycotts think childishly," he said.

Al-Ghain said cartoons depicting the Prophet in an offending manner cannot harm him. He added that a person who defames the Prophet is "just like a man who throws a handful of sand toward the sun just to find the sand falling over his own head."

The Kingdom’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) failed to respond to an Arab News’ query whether they would block Facebook or the website marking the day.

Muslims outraged at Facebook profanity - Arab News

[Lady Macbeth]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

How does holocaust come into the picture in this?

Erm .....I think you failed to notice (or did you choose to ignore it?) that I mentioned a controversial movie as well - one that allegedly depicted Christianity in a detrimental manner and according to Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights "promoted" atheism for kids.....the list is long of examples of religious stink bombs.



My freedom of speech/past time leisurely act dictates that I chomp down on some sizzling hot beef kebebs (just an example please dont be offended) but I'm pretty sure my Jain friends (I do have a few for that matter) would be offended so I always order vegetarian when dining with them and make sure I have a few 'vegetarian only dishes and pots/pans' (so as not to taint/stench them with the blood from the meat) that I have set aside for when I invite my Hindu/Jain friends over for dinner. I am sure most of us 'are' and 'can be' accomodating in that manner, no?



What I am trying to ferret out using a 500wtt spot light is that you dont cut your nose to spite your face, do you? Likewise if we as humans want to move ahead in the walks of life we do not in any way alienate the ones who have no choice but to be a bit "different"



Times such as today we need to assimilate.....(I know whats coming back from you in regards to this point ....and so I will save you the trouble....) Yes, plenty moderate muslims are trying their best to do so but where does it say that disrespecting anyone religious or even seemingly causeless beliefs is "freedom of speech" and acceptable in a civilised society....rather the contrary!



Is humour/humor(American eshtyle eh....) so limited that a stand up comedian should toss aside other ideas and just run down the "Fart jokes and pick on the OBL-lookalike-bearded-man-sitting-with-a-woman-dressed-as-a-black-sack-of-potatoes"???



Or is this the easiset way to get publicity? Pick some treadstones from Islam and you are deemed to get your fifteen minutes of fame.(this post is getting lonnnnnng, I better end it here as I am sure you get my point)

Originally Posted by vinod2070

And if someone creates such a day, would that satisfy you and you would have no problem with the competition?

You know me better than that...no?



Firstly I dont have time for such idle bafoonery and secondly even if I did I would watch the Golden Compass (just want to check out Eva Greens shoes)

[Lady Macbeth]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

I do agree that both are wrong. However, two wrongs don't make a right!

I would still like to understand, why bring an unrelated issue of holocaust into this? I have seen too many people do this almost as a Pavlovian reaction (supposedly to point out Western hypocrisy).

Second, both these issues are as far as they can be. The caricature issue is about hurting the religious feelings of a group of people who believe its a sacrilege, the second is about a horrific event of recent history.

On my side, I think all people should refrain from insulting other religions.

And who, my dear is disrespecting the holocaust, I was merely giving examples.....but then again surely there will be some amongst us who will question the veracity of it "supposedly to point out Western hypocrisy"