Pakistan

Facebook page that stirred rage in Pakistan removed

Afp May 22, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO:

A Facebook page that fueled rage and protest in Pakistan was gone from the popular online social networking service on Friday.

The Facebook user that organised an "Everyone Draw Mohammed Day" competition to promote "freedom of expression" evidently took down the page along with a separate blog about the campaign.

"Facebook has not taken any action on this page," the California-based social networking titan said after reporting the page was gone.

The disappearance of the page came as protesters in Pakistan shouted "Death to Facebook," "Death to America" and burnt US flags, venting growing anger over "sacrilegious" caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed on the Internet.

The "Everyone Draw Mohammed Day" inspired by an American woman cartoonist sparked a major backlash in Pakistan which has a population of 170 million Muslims.

Islam strictly prohibits the depiction of any prophet as blasphemous and the row has sparked comparison with protests across the Muslim world over the publication of satirical cartoons of Mohammed in European newspapers in 2006.

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) banned access to Facebook, YouTube and more than 450 links, including restricted access to Wikipedia in view of what it called "growing sacrilegious content".

COMMENTS (11)

Alferd Jan | 14 years ago | Reply Being a Non-Muslim one wonders at the mentality of young Muslims in Pakistan. As I have learned through reliable Muslim books like Quran & Hadith that no one can a true Muslim until & unless he loves Holy Prophet S.A.W.W more than any other person in the world. There was a Lahori gentleman by the name of Ghazi Alm Din who became a legend by killing an insulter. My question to the parents of majority of the above commentators is has the concepts changed in the last twenty years?

Sarah | 14 years ago | Reply before i begin with, i by no mean support anything that is anti-islamic, but am also not in fav of exageration. now lift bann as the crap page is removed, to those who are still not satisfied u can del ur fb acc but dont try to take our right of free will

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Maham Shahid Gillani | 14 years ago | Reply I strongly agree with Yumna Shezad this is not the first time that the western people have targeted us made a mockery of our faith which we hold in the highest esteem but I differ the ban on facebook should be permanent. I would not want to give away a penny to the people who make fun of my beloved Prophet(SAW) in the name of freedom of speech. Yes they need to be taught a lesson the hard way. I appeal to the heads of all the Muslim nations to ban the websites that contain blasphemous stuff in their respective countries so that no one else dares to do some thing of that sort in the future.

Mazhar | 14 years ago | Reply I Like this step…….. but also i want close all these sites which’s are spoiling young generation. If this step take our government hope Pakistani Generation have positive activity or postive thinging. plz plz friend take a step ……… i am or hope many pepole with yoy.

Yumna Shezad | 14 years ago | Reply Its not the first time that Muslim's sovereignity has been attacked. it has happened in the past, it has happened now and i am afraid it will continue to happen unless we take some REAL stand against it. Previously it was the newspapers, this time its electronic media and the continuation of this hideous act only proves that we are lacking somewhere otherwise they wont have the guts to point fingers at our religion. Therefore, banning or boycotting facebook is NOT the answer; we should unite amongst ourselves and prove to be a force that is hard to over come!

Sarosh | 14 years ago | Reply A great many hypocrites living in Pakistan were revealed to me during the time that Facebook was banned which gave me a perfect impression that as if some essentials of life have been stolen away from them; it's funny and woeful at the same time. Well, ban on Facebook will soon be lifted now, you guys shall take your restlessness to an end and a deep sigh and go feast on it.

Shahrukh Chaudhary | 14 years ago | Reply The right strategy obviously is get this accepted by the whole world that drawing pictures of Prophet is not acceptable, similar to what the Jews have achieved on the Holocaust. The discussions should be based on how to achieve this objective and not on whether certain websites should be banned or not.

Saleem Siddiqi | 14 years ago | Reply Facebook should condemn and appologize from Millions of Muslims whose feelings were hurt. It the originator who has voluntarily removed the disputed page from the Facebook and not by Facebook authorities. This tentamounts that anyone else can also start such controversial compaign in future too. it is time for Facebook authorities to ponder and chalk our their clear goals and policies to condemn actions which may cause dis-repute to religion, caste and creed.

Ahmer Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Objectionable cartoon attached on facebook.com is unbearable because no religion allows any one to attack on other religion's followers,rules and regulations and when you read the terms and conditions of any social website when you comment about any thing this statement is shown that "your comments will be read by our moderator and after passing your comments will be published or shared in any form".Then how it is possible that the most renowned social website facebook.com published objectionable material without any investigation.This step is the most accurate and exact taken by PTA to ban the facebook.com in Pakistan.The social websites should be more and more careful when they share the religious views so that no one could hurt.Creating and sharing the objectionable cartoons have been the most favorite trend of western people and thay always say that muslims should display patience in every field.Now time has come to be reunited against the evil powers of western socities and even also other muslim countries must ban social websites like facebook.com etc.,etc. which share or publish objectionable materials in any forms so that western people know that we have been reunited once again.

Zunaib M Yousuf | 14 years ago | Reply Once the event is over we also usually start winding up the decoration, tables and chairs because it makes no sense after the conclusion of the event... So the creator already achieved the motive which he initiated and the deadline of 20th May was over ... Yet I do not support neither oppose the banning of Facebook page in Pakistan but I would strongly back the Muslims all over world specially in Pakistan raising the strong voice against the blasphemy just to show the strength and prove that no compromise in our religious reservations !!! Lot of moderators are raising the voice against LHC and PTA for banning the Facebook, and I would ask them that you can not achieve anything with any practical activities ... if we would have avoided this incident later they would have come with something different perhaps more harmful and after wards this series would have continued ... This was the right time and right thing to do just to threat the west that we won't sit quiet on such a matter ... Also I wonder that why only we? Why didn't the other Muslims nations like Malaysia, Indonesia major Muslim population of India, Gulf countries didn't record their protest? Well this is time to think where is the Unity of Muslims... I best if all would have speak together on the streets as well as diplomatic level the blasphemers would have been highly intimidated and this wouldn't have worsen that much !! Yet Hope for the best !!!

Ali Haider | 14 years ago | Reply I wish Facebook had taken the page down. There should be a limit to standing for freedom on expression.

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