ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has ordered the immediate blocking of video sharing site YouTube in Pakistan, Express News reported on Monday.
He said blasphemous content cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
The decision to block the website was taken after YouTube denied to remove the anti-Islam film.
A statement from the Prime Minister's office read: "The direction has been given after YouTube refused to heed to the advice of the government of Pakistan to remove blasphemous film from its site."
The statement added that services of YouTube would remain suspended till removal of blasphemous material from the site.
Following the suspension, Pakistan joined Afghanistan and Bangladesh in countries who had banned the site after the video sharing site refused to comply to requests.
However, YouTube, which maintains that the film does not violate any of their community guidelines, had restricted access to the film in Egypt, Libya, India and Indonesia last week.
Earlier, the Interior, Religious and Information Technology Ministry have recommended a complete ban on YouTube.
The ministries also recommended that the summary by an inter-ministrial committee on the matter should also be forwarded to the prime minister.
Earlier during the day, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), following the Supreme Court’s orders, blocked 753 links leading to the anti-Islam film on YouTube. The director general of PTA said that almost 100 new clips of the anti-Islam film are proliferated on YouTube every day.
The recently film on YouTube has sparked violent anti-US protests across the Muslim world.
Google staff may be expelled
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday while pointing towards the fact that authorities had blocked thousands of anti-Islam links on the internet across the country, he warned that failure by Google to take decisive action may result in expulsion of staff.
Malik warned Google administration to remove the anti-Islam material, otherwise visas of Google officials in Pakistan would be cancelled.
He said in a high level meeting, the chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had been directed to block all anti Islam materials.
On his claim last week of contacting Interpol over blasphemous content, Malik followed up saying that he has written a “letter to the UN and asked for taking serious notice of the issue which is hurting interfaith harmony.”
He said he had also written a letter to Interpol head, demanding an action against those elements who were out to defame Islam which promote peace and harmony.
COMMENTS (133)
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Iam Agree Banned on Youtube & anti islamic videos
in my point of view..once we take those ppl seriously they shouldn;t have done this kind of act in future..if its not going to deal this time..we will continue to fight with each other..like on this forum.
plz on the youtube nd remove anti islam videos from youtube then will on youtube plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz on youtube
This is good decision by Islamic Republic of Pakistan to ban access to Youtube. I think that would be better if Islamic Countries set together and find perfect solution for this issue.
Islamic Countries should go for protest to ban all Google servers (gmail, youtube..., google.com) until they remove the video from youtube.
Although I'm probably going to miss youtube. I think it's a good idea. Considering the conditions in Muslim countries due to this video I think we must ban youtube, so this can all hopefully die down. Hopefully, this'll be temporary. I'm surprised how many non-muslims have a problem with this. Isn't this a much better alternative to death?
@Babar: if it is unable to teach us the meaning of "Warafaa na laka zikrak" a pen and paper would help us only to sign our own death warrants in front of Almighty.
According to the Times, Google, which owns YouTube where the clip is posted, did not remove the video from its site because its policy is to remove content only if it is deemed "hate speech," or "if it is responding to valid court orders or government requests." Based on company guidelines, the Internet behemoth determined that Innocence of Muslims "was not hate speech," the paper reported, but Google still made the exceptional decision to block access to the video in Egypt and Libya in response to the violence and killings. well if this was not a "hate speech" i wonder what else on earth can be. So it was a brave and great decision to ban You-tube. If They are not interested in what is damaging us then we should also not be dying to get EDUCATED through you-tube only. there are lots of other ways and means to get ENLIGHTENED.
Pakistan will definitely not die just because YouTube is off.
@Vikram: none of your business
It is a good decision people of Pakistan should also realize including the media to quit youtube as it can not remove the blasphemous videos. So it could impact them directly If we can not remove our accounts from youtube and facebook then this ban would not encourage these miscreants . Indeed its a good decision and it should be banned forever both youtube and facebook and muslims should also quit using it .
Some say block, some do not. I guess the point here is to record a protest against the denial by Google to remove the controversial content from youtube.com. Yes the blasphemous content might be present in high volume on the internet but this is an intentional endeavor to promote that content. And pressure must be asserted on such sickening people, societies and countries that create and encourage such promotions, so that no one would ever dare doing this again.
The real sign of childishness here? The inability to watch a video, realise it says something against your particular beliefs, and calmly switch it off. We're proving the stereotype of Islam as a violent religion, day by day, without anyone's active interference. We're ruining our own image in the eye's of the world: if the mission is to 'spread Islam', this focus on violence, limiting freedom of information, and treating our fellow country-men like small, tantrum-throwing children who can't be exposed to anything that opposes their view, is pitiful. A blasphemous video was made: your reaction should be distress at the fate of the unbelievers, laughter at their poor understanding of a peaceful religion, and a deep peace within your own faith. If you want to react - do it peacefully, write a letter, release a public statement on behalf of the nation condemning the said video - act like adults, secure in their beliefs. Don't persecute, kill, ban, target: these are petty ways to react in a world of people with differing opinions. Let them be wrong, and teach them through peaceful protest. Have enough faith to know they will suffer for their own stupidity. Don't stoop to their level. Don't treat Pakistani's like children whose understanding of the world and it's differing opinions must be restricted and blocked. Don't propel the country backwards. Other religions are abused daily: I'm sure we all abuse other religions daily. Have enough faith to peacefully disagree. This video is hardly a sign of 'persecution' to be fought against, and the reactions are disappointingly extreme.
It Should Be Banned Completely All Over The World And The Muslim Countries Can do That ..!! Even Pakistan Alone Can Enforce America To Ban Its Release ... But Unfortunately ....... :/
@Muhamamd Awais: You say that "nobody can speak against the Holocaust in the US......"! WRONG, there is no law that says that in the US! Please learn about US LAWS before posting!
it doesnt make any sense at all by banning youtube completly. They should think about the students who might take alot of information from the interviews available on youtube. They should have blocked the channel or video y ban youtube??????? :@ :@ ma complete presntation relies on youtube and if it is not being removes then it suckssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its just one person is a murderer and u'll prosecute the entire murderer's family for his act.
Good work. if youtube is not ready to remove videos it should be blocked forever. WE LOVE our PROPHET S.A.W. not youtube.
If Muslim countries banned YouTube it will bring down this countries in Days, because they earn from us.
is there any sane person here?its really disappointing to see even the educated people defending this decision, grow up people, when Prophet himself chose to ignore insults directed at him, what are we trying to show?
Every Muslim country and those countries who have soft-corner for Muslims should block "You Tube".
A simple Holocaust denial is a crime in the western countries even through they preach "freedom of expression" to others. Islam, its Holy Prophet, ahlay bait and his companions should equally be off-limit for hate-mongers; there are limits to everything. If Goggle does not want to take corrective/preventive measures, it should be BANNED. I sincerely hope more Muslim countries join in and support this non-violent protest and move.
Some questions that come to my mind regarding blocking youtube and expelling google staff.
1) our IT industry relies on google for a living and youtube is now fast becoming a tool to for marketing hence some industries and jobs will take a hit especially IT companies. 2) how will people who use youtube to spread Islam be able to continue their good work? 3) why havent countries live Malaysia, Turkey, UAE banned youtube? Why ALWAYS us? are they not true muslims?
Let us think and come up with a constructive solution in which we get credibility because we are right in protesting but not like this, where we are fast becoming a laughing stock of extremists.
Ban Internet
Blocking the YouTube is not the solution of the problem.
Great move by PTA, at least they have a sense and courage to take these kind of steps to slap western mean and cunning media.
Thanks PTA
@Vikram: hindu is a word doesnt exist in any historical and vedic text neither in any temple or any old monument in india, religions name in vedic text is given as sanatan religion. what this word hindu means and where it came from . persians use the word hindu to humiliate the dark skin indians , its a deragoratory word means----.raja ram mohon roy during 1830s accepted the word to describe the word hindu
but dont ban taliban and anti US or india videos....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right move. I think all other islamic countries should follow the suit. This will build tremendous pressure to stop this dirty game.
@Saud: Obey Pakistani laws? Really? Guess what? Pakistani laws are for Pakistan alone. Nobody but those living in Pakistan has to obey them.
Yep -- Pakistan bans Utube and Google (who owns Utube) stock rises. Maybe your not as important to the economic prosperity of Utube as you thought?
Ban Internet.
Don't worry kids it will be back soon like NATO Supply. By the way its the only occupation most of our Parliamentarians. this is what they do in spare time. I mean while they are in parliament.
I salute the Pakistani government for this bold stance. No matter what our differences our, we are all united, under one flag and banner, that no insults to our beloved Prophet will be tolerated.
West can shove freedom of expression back down their throats.
@Anonymous:
How can you go back to the Dark Ages when 95% never left it?
First thing's first at some commenters; The US does NOT ban Holocaust denial, some European countries do and Muslim denigration in such countries is covered under hate crime laws. Secondly, is all criticism of the Prophet Muhammad 'blasphemous'? How are we supposed to engage in debate and discussion with those hostile towards Islam if you can't even talk to them because you refuse to acknowledge what they say and choose to bury your head in the sand?
Why Is there such thin skinned-ness regarding the Prophet? Didn't he withstand abuse and not once did he retaliate? When the way to engage with people who slander him isn't to kill them, take an example from the Prophet's life. The way to engage with them is ask them why they feel a certain way and placate them.
This ban is single handedly one of the stupidest things the Pakistani government has done (of the many). For every grossly insulting video, there are thousands of educational videos. I learned to play the guitar on YouTube and am still doing so, I watch independent news programmes and documentaries on Youtube, as well as listen to music which I don't illegally download. YouTube and the Internet is abound with a wealth of information and has huge educational value. All this move has done is take us one step closer to the Stone Age. If you don't like something on YouTube, don't watch it. Is it that hard?
@Bourj Ali Qumbrani :
How about respecting other Islamic tenets like honesty and integrity ? I would like to see the same level of outcry over greed, nepotism, corruption and general immorality in Islamic world.
We are very vocal and emotional about supercilious abuse by others, yet ignore our own shortcomings.
To all my friends arguing against banning Youtube, I do not understand not one of them have tried to understand that YOUTUBE and GOOGLE have categorically denied removing the clips though on a formal request of Govt of Pakistan. Please Sir, this matter is not about Pakistani Politicians or political name game. This matter is about the most highest, the most respectful is personality on earth (PBUH). Please don't ask us be rational, Ashiq and Love demand Insanity and being insane in Love of Hazoor (PBUH) is much better than rationality In Medani when Shaba Karam use to talk with Hazoor (PBUH) they use to say "Me and My parents may scarfice our lives on you" Does this statement
Do you think People in West and People running these organization like Youtube dont understand this simple thing. Why can't the comply with one this request
@Pakistani Hindu: Yes I am saying if You tube is not removing anti ISLAM content then it should be blocked in Pakistan...!!! I think every thing is clear to you?
This youtube is a resource of 1000000 videos featuring the real seerat of PBUH. If you close your eyes it doesnt mean that other cant see u. People still using google ?? if yes then y? utube is a product of Google. So all pakistani please stop using google. gmail , g-maps and lot more from google.
Why do we don't understand the difference between Private Speech (this ridiculous low-budget movie designed primarily to offend some) and Public Speech (US Govt's official stance on something)? Why don't we understand that some societies hold concepts of Free Speech and Expression more dear than religious reverence?
Banning Youtube - with all kinds useful videos that people use for distance learning/Khan Academy etc - is like blocking electricity since somebody used it to shock somebody else. Why don't we block electricity since you need that to run computers?
Where do we we draw the line and start thinking logically?
@Pakistani Hindu: Yes he has realized that's why hes saying this...you have nothing to do with this blockage, its not your case.
@gp65: Please inform yourself! You do not need to go to a library. There is sufficient information available on the web. It was not the muslims who burnt the Alexadria Library. Furthermore do not discount Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, Cordoba & Granada.
I would not have supported the ban if google would have found that video offensive ! With requests from all over the world at individual level and at state level (including US) google never find anything offensive about that video. The government waited for a week for google to response sensibly but they didn;t ! Now govt. did what majority wants and that's perfectly ok in democracy ! I don;t see any problem here !
Ban and boycott everything that was invented or discovered by western countries. If you think that's the solution then go back to the 12th century.
YouTube or any other thing whether it is business, studies e.t.c isn't worth more then the respect and dignity of our beloved PROPHET MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H)... thumbs up for the first decision, please also ban all American products, we can go to any extend if it is about ISLAM
What an absolutely insane decision
cool, now that the youtube has been blocked, please block google and wikipedia also so that the whole nation can concentrate better on por*n sites.
cool, now that the youtube has been blocked, please block google and wikipedia also so that the whole nation can concentrate better on por*n sites.
Oh basically we are burying our heads. Assuming that because i can not see it, nobody else can....
A good decision, if taken well in advance, protest may be mild in Pakistan. A stitch in time saves nine. Good. However, I have doubts about the capability of our experts to block the site.
Ban the internet - it has too many links to inflammatory content against Islam and Prophet - it will have negative impact on our kids and they will stop loving HIM.
@Sharjeel Jawaid: "When shall we be getting our pious society rid of newspapers, magazines and books ?"
If you choose to follow the example of the Muslim conquerors who destroyed the Alexandria library, then the day may not be so far. Choose your role models wisely.
block internet, ban science books in school and colleges as that may give access to writings of Kafirs in physics and medicine and that can be a temptation to forget Quran. Medical schools should be shut down and new hakeem schools run by our local hakeems should teach the medical students the real medicine. Oops forgot to mention, bomb all the co-ed schools, thats unislamic
OK great block it if it makes things better. so does it also mean that there will be no protest in pakistan if another video is posted as it can never be seen there. makes sense right? others can do whatever they want in their own country as long as it doesnt affect pakistan, so if no video is broadcasted in pakistan then they should not protest.
When shall we be getting our pious society rid of newspapers, magazines and books ?
yes good decision ban it for good
I agree.... nothing is more important thn our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him)... If they cant respect our feelings they dnt have any right to get business from muslims
PPP got my vote now cause they blocked the blasphemous youtube.
@Pakistani Hindu: because the innocent people are exposing to bad bad west..
@Afina Elma: Very rightly said.. they will surely ban every possible reason that encourages learning and accepting others as themselves... they might ban ET someday... for encouraging us to share our views!!!!
And we love Chinese govt. quite too much...!!!!
I was watching lectures of fourier transform on youtube. Now please tell me what was my mistake.
You want to ban something, ban violent protests. Banning the site or the video wont destroy the film or the ideas in people;s mind. Learn to ignore whats not important to muslims and islam. Learn to say to them, "we dont care what you think or feel, we have strong faith that you cant destroy with films." Let others speak their mind, and you speak yours, but banning things is like hiding from what is going on outside the box.
You can find tons of blasphemous material on the net so let us stop the internet altogether. We need to go back to the stone age to protect ourselves.
Nice decision....youtube is not Important in front of our Beloved Prophet S.A.W...
@zeeshan aftab: Yes, am sure Youtube is shuddering at the thought. How about protesting by feeding the needy?
Why don't we simply ban the usage of computer and other device in Pakistan?
@khi: becasue owners of you tube are not considering their moral and professional responsibilities!!!
@Nabeel: it seems to be extremism !!
@Nabeel: kindly explain your point? nobody can speak against holocaust in US and many other European countries as this is legally ban and a crime. But we these countries allow blasphemy in the name of freedom of expression. So please be rational and talk sense.
Have we lost our minds? I haven't seen the video nor will I. I get it, it's insulting. So let's go out and kill a few American Diplomats and go out on the streets, wreak havoc and kill and injure more innocent people. We are too thin skinned, way too sensitive and too easily offended.
Are we the emotional equivalent of children?? We are ACTING LIKE IT. It is the face we are showing the whole world. We embarrass ourselves, acting like spoiled children. . . sad
block completely
Well Done Very Good Dicession to Block the Youtube in Anti Islam videos
Here we go again. We just so love self damage we can't get enough of it. Why don't we simply ban the usage of our brain next. I am sure the guy who made the video would sit back and laugh about how he succeeded in pushing Muslims back to the middle ages. I'm afraid this government would leave without doing a single service for the betterment of Pakistan.
Yes youtube should be banned for now .. If Pakistanis do not go on youtube for one day, it costs them millions ... This is the right way to protest ..Sabotage them economically ..because this will actually teach them a lesson ... And those who protest against this ban have clearly no respect or love for their religion if they call themselves Muslims
Yes, youtube should be blocked.
PTA should raise this matter with google and if they are not willing to remove it then file a law suit against them. If they want to ban Youtube or any other website then it should be permanent; means till they obey Pakistani laws.
Sky will not fall apart if youtube/facebook is banned. Once they are gone for a long period then their will be alternatives. These both site are banned for years in China. People move on; they live, adopt and to other law abiding options. It will not be a smooth step but will be a much better option in the long run.
Yes, Block completely.
what about banning insanity on main stream media and arresting violent people and hanging them high after speedy trials?
all blasphemous contents should be removed from youtube and from other social networking sites ...i dont think to ban whole site make any sense..but i will record my protest by not using youtube on sept 20,21 ans 22...honestly...!!
I would be happy if Pakistan bans youtube. That would reduce the negative effects by the likes of Zaid Hamid on ordinary citizens and people would rather thinking about building their country instead of trying to broadcast Radio Pakistan from New Delhi
If 5 sizable Muslim countries block facebook, youtube etc for SOMETIME whenever such material is put, share values of these companies will go down and they will think 100 times before putting them on!
I agree. Ban Youtube. . The west should respect us enough to let us decide what hurts us. Don't decide what should or should not hurt us!!!
Ban Youtube. What next? Ban every foreigner/non-muslim in the country? and then one fine day maybe you decide then nobody has the right to live in this world except muslims and kill all the infidels in the name of Allah?
Islam teaches none of this. We're taught tolerance and patience, none of which we seem to practice. Our Prophet (PBUH) tolerated the degrading and evil acts of his enemies and as history is witness, he was in a position where he could have had all their heads on a plate after conquest of Makkah, but instead he forgave them and preached the message of peace of tolerance. Where is that message today? I only see the message of hatred and bigotry everywhere. If our enemies stoop so low, do we stoop even lower to prove our allegiance to our religion? Or instead do we ask ourselves "Is that what Muhammad (PBUH) would have done as well?".
There is lot of anti-Islam stuff on the Internet. To ban Internet will be the best thing for Muslim countries.
This might sound insane, but as a very devout and sensitive Muslim, I believe the PTA should pass a law banning the internet for Muslims. Every ISP (internet service provider) should be required to check a person's ID card before deciding whether or not to provide them with an internet connection! The internet is FULL OF blasphemous content and for every blasphemous website the PTA bans, some evil American Free Mason or Zionist Jew or member of the Illuminati is going to create ten new websites that deride Islam! Sure, banning the internet will put Pakistan back several more decades, but that's a fair price to pay! I mean, who needs access to informative science documentaries on youtube, online libraries, free ebooks on every topic under the sun, excellent articles and what-not!? We can't be relied to ignore stuff we find offensive; we need our highly enlightened ulema (they may have trouble reading and writing and enjoy raping little boys, but they're still really holy, OKAY!?) and semi-literate bureaucrats to protect our innocence and our faith! I'm going to break my router after posting this.
Awesome! Good Job People. RoW will have a lesser migraine.
What about thousands of Videos on youtube praising Hadhrat MUHAMMAD PBUH. What about the Quran Lectures our brothers are taking benefit from it. What about tafseer Videos ? and list goes on and on.To be Emotional is something else but one should be sensible enough beofre doing anything. Prepare the best answer and upload on same medium will be better serve than what u think...
Do at once as per my User ID, as this dirty game is played by these US embassises those are situated at Islamic countries, why? Yes Just to Check out the MUSLIMS' Temperature.
yes yes.... block all the internet... go back to stone age... block computers too as they are also made by jews and christians..
Insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Did any of the bans previously have any impact on anybody except ourselves? How many more times will we go down this same path over and over again. When will people learn. Pakistan needs to come out of this delusion that our bannings have any impact on anybody - it simply does not.
No one forces you to go on the internet - no one forces you to visit Utube - no one forces you to read/write/watch. In short - any Muslim who has watched this film has had to go out of his way to do so.
Yes You Tube must be blocked.
Concerned authorities when will take action against serious and dangerous blasphemous act . why for waiting, Immediately block the youtube till takeoff said movie.
Good Work ... Should Ban Youtube and all others anti Islam websites
Love Prophets (S.A.W) -- Love AllAH -- Love Islam -- Love Quran
its a good move fitting the highly volatile nature of the country . Another ban on Facebook highly recommended . After a month slow the ban can be removed and people will not go search for blasphemous materials and do something useful!.
Good decision, ban youtube and anyone who has a problem with it can always use proxy to watch it.
Complete ban on Youtube? Why don't we simply ban the internet completely? Genius Idea, no?
What next? Banning paper when someone publishes a blasphemous book?
In that case we must first ban Pakistan where unislamic practices are rampant.
@Azmat: do you even realize what you are saying.!!??
Strongly support to block youtube forever ...
Good! if they cant take it off youtube - Ban it!
yes should be blocked
ban on youtube? blocking anti islam links makes sense.. but why banning youtube itself?