I support the internet bans

LAHORE: This is with reference to Omar Bilal Akhtar’s “I support the internet bans” (June 28). I appreciate Mr Akhtar’s efforts to produce an article which is both intellectual and sarcastic.  However, he did not produce a valid argument for not banning blasphemous contents on these sites. I favour banning things which defame our religion.

That said, I’m not opposed to importing beneficial technology. Without cars, mobile phones and computers our life would be unimaginable. But hurting people’s religious sentiments cannot be defended using the facile pretext of the freedom of speech. Although I fully appreciate the West for its commendable achievements in science, I am offended by the content of some websites.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2010.