No More Facebook Login as Pakistan Court Orders Temporary Ban
If you make something as amazing as Facebook, which is the world’s most popular social networking website, you can be sure that controversy will not be far behind. Here’s the controversy - Facebook was banned by a court in Pakistan on 19th May, 2010. However, the ban is temporary and the use of Facebook is prohibited until 31st May, 2010. The telecommunications authority of Pakistan has been directed by Justice Ejaz Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court to block Facebook till 31st May, 2010.
No More Facebook Login Due to Online Sketches of the Prophet
The legal ban on Facebook was the Pakistan government's reaction to a page on Facebook known as "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day." Clearly, no more facebook login will be permitted in Pakistan till the specified date is over. This controversy began because a page on Facebook encourages users to take part in a competition to publish online sketches and cartoons of the holy personage, Prophet Muhammad.
Let’s not forget that Muslims consider the sketches of Prophet Muhammad as an act of blasphemy i.e. showing disrespect towards a holy person or religious beliefs and customs. Blasphemy is strictly forbidden in Islam. This particular page of Facebook has drawn lots of criticism from several Muslims mainly from Muslim Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In fact, Muslim activists and religious extremists have set up online operations to draw this issue to the attention of the concerned authorities. The Pakistani law minister, Babar Awan stated that the matter will be raised at an international level.
A special assembly of lawyers known as the Islamic Lawyers’ Movement has also asked for blanket ban on the social networking site, by filing a petition in the Court. The telecommunication department of Pakistan has been directed by the Lahore High Court to submit a written reply to the appeal by 31st May, 2010.
No More Facebook Login Till the Controversy on Caricatures is Resolved
A situation of unrest has already begun in Pakistan leading various people in Karachi to step out to streets to show their protest and condemnation against the particular page on Facebook. In 2006, a similar controversy arose in Pakistan, when a Danish newspaper published caricatures of Prophet Muhammad. Thousands of people were killed and several banks, restaurants and gas station, which were affiliated to western companies, were burnt.
Across centuries, religion has always been glorified as a positive and harmonious energy that brings individuals closer to their real selves through worship of God. A peek into the pages of world history will show us that millions of people have been sacrificed needlessly in the name of religion. This can end only when we, as individuals, are able to question and look at religion as something that inspires, rather than as a tool of destruction.
No More Facebook Login: What do You Say?
Vikrant Sharma, one of our avid readers, shared unique thoughts about the concept of free Internet by stating "The users and developers have to exercise caution when dealing with sensitive elements like religion and politics. Even in India, rights like freedom of speech and freedom of expression are granted with some legal and constitutional controls so that they are not misused. For Pakistan, which follows Islamic laws, banning Facebook until the concerned application/page is withdrawn may be the right thing to do to control a potential religious outrage. I think what we need to understand is the reason behind the ban by a judicial organization. The reason probably is not blasphemy only but also the tension that it can create if allowed to be continued."
our government take good decision.....
and i am with my government....
no more people make sketches of or beloved Prophet....
kill all these bastards people who iz doing these types of movements....
@LIG The figure quoted for Facebook users in Pakistan seems to be grossly incorrect. I don't think there are 45 million Internet users in Pakistan, which has a total population of 160 million approximately, forget about "active Facebook users". If this figure is to be believed it would mean about 1/3 of Pakistanis use Facebook actively, that Pakistan contributes to over 10% of the Facebook user base and that India with only 8-9 million Facebook users is way behind.
@Vikrant: We take great care to ensure the accuracy of our articles by choosing resources that are highly reliable and known for accuracy. Based on your feedback, we will check the data and correct it if the figure is incorrect. Thank you for pointing this out. We look forward to your suggestions.
Just one addition, I think the Final TakeAway Tip sound to philosophical to take it away. In my opinion a more objective idea can be introduced. For eg: "Facebook has transformed the way people interact across the globe. However, efforts to malign the image of any religious figure should be strictly tackled. The Facebook administrators must ensure that such pages are not created by users to make it a social platform rather than being used by propagandists."
I believe such a tip is a more solution-based approach.
@mayank.brother you are right.today they are voilating us tomorrow they will violate anyone and would say that everyone has freedom to speak.thats very good what the govt. did even if 1 person deativates his account that also puts an effect on their buiness.
This shows the intolerance in muslims. They can't forgive anyone. They can only talk of killing :(
@Umair: Thanks for expressing your thoughts on this issue. Please continue to support us by visiting us more often and offering your suggestions on topics and how we can serve readers better.
@ Vikrant: Based on your constructive feedback, we have removed the figure you had questioned. We have also incorporated your inputs to add more depth to the article from a reader's perspective and we hope that it is fine with you. Thank you once again.
@Mayank: Thank you so much for the feedback on the legal tip. Take a look at the revised tip now which as you stated is more apt for this forum and please continue to give us constructive feedback.
@Nadeem: Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Please continue to give us feedback.
@Sameer: Hope to see constructive feedback from you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
For me, it is sad to see, the whole community being detached from the rest of the world by a handful... This matter is of individual acceptance, individual thought process & individual belief... One who uses facebook needs to decide if he/she wants to reacte to anything posted on the internet, dammit its a personal call of an individual... Why is it that ... See Moreyou want to influence it & give birth to more hatered?
The ones who are forcing this on the entire community, i have a question for them... Why is it that you use double standards in reacting to similar matters? Why don't you cut off ties with the rest of the world who call Islam & Pakistan breeding grounds for terrorists, what stops you from doing that? I believe it is as demeaning as the above issue... I know why you can't, but do you have the ethics & morals to answer truthfully?
Shame on you people & i hope internet users in Pakistan (our younger brother) don't take this dictatorship sitting down. Tell your governments... You take our liberties away from us, we will take yours from you & trust me there are many non violent ways of doing it.
I would urge Indians to take lessons from what is happening around the world & within our country, so that you are prepared to take the bull by the horns when required, which we have ignored till now.
I care... Let's say together "WE CARE"
@LIG Thanks, I appreciate the way feedback is considered and incorporated in your posts.
Thanks for the feedback incorporation.. One would like to highlight one more thing.. Like we are discussing users behavior on the internet. One of the comments listed here is a perfect example of how ppl can use online media for propaganda. I can understand that you want the platform to remain open to public comments. But u shuld not allow a platform as good as this to be used by people for spreading religious hatred. Am I making myself clear. Comment no. 6 is seriously offensive and has no relation with the topic under discussion. Please remove it.
Mayank, comment 1 speaks of killing and comment 6 speaks of childish deactivation. And, you only found my comment offensive which sees the people holding banners in Pakistan saying 'to kill the bastards' as intolerant. You are funny! :D
Sorry for the typo, comment 5 speaks of childish deactivation...
@Mayank: Thanks for the feedback. We understand your views as a reader. However, LIG has a policy that all readers will be free to express their views and this will not be barred unless there has been gross misuse of the LIG platform in the form of personal insults, abusive language and so on. We will ensure that LIG will not be a platform that spreads religious hatred in any way. Please continue to send your feedback and we will incorporate whatever we can in our articles.
@Sameer: Lets recognize that every reader has the right to express views openly. Let's keep it that way and debate about issues without any prejudices or making any personal remarks.
Had Hindus protested like this for MF Hussain drwing nude Hindu goddesses in vulgarity, stupid media would have empathised with him saying Hindus should be tolerant where they only protest and dont ask to kill anybody. But various comments here asking to 'kill' clearly shows the high intolerance level of muslims and mediators and judges keep silence when muslims ask to 'kill'. I agree with sameer.
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