Pakistan blocks Facebook over 'Draw Mohammed' Day

[The Witch]

Pakistan is blocking access to Facebook in response to an online group calling on people to draw the Prophet Mohammed, officials said Wednesday.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority issued the order a day before "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day," scheduled by a Facebook group with the same name.

"Obviously it (the blocking of Facebook) is related to the objectionable material that was placed on Facebook. That is why it is blocked," said Khoram Ali Mehran of the telecommunication authority.

"We have blocked it for an indefinite amount of time. We are just following the government's instructions and the ruling of the Lahore High Court. If the government decides to unblock it then that's what we will do," he told CNN by phone.

The organization has not received any complaints from internet users about the Facebook group so far, he said. Devout Muslims consider it offensive to depict Mohammed.

There were riots around the world in response to a series of cartoons of Mohammed in a Danish newspaper in 2005, and at least two European cartoonists live under police protection after publication of their drawings of the Muslim prophet.

The administrators of the "Draw Mohammed" group did not immediately respond to a CNN e-mail.

-Source-

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of
good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson

Opinions?

 

[Sabriel]

My first instincts tell me to laugh at this article. HAHAHA.

Second, what is it with these people? It's just drawings. Sure, it's a notable figure in religious history, but everybody is entitled to a right to portray him in ways that they liked.

What is all the fuss?

 

[Davey Gaga]

I find it offensive that people need to be put under protection from drawing someone from what is essentially a story, but nothing will be done about that, will it?

Not the strongest case in the world but I'm just trying to show how disgusted I become when religion takes over people's lives as such, and that it shouldn't ever be about proselytizing (why deny your whole country Facebook access when only some of you are offended by it?).

 

[The Witch]

My first instincts tell me to laugh at this article. HAHAHA.

Second, what is it with these people? It's just drawings. Sure, it's a notable figure in religious history, but everybody is entitled to a right to portray him in ways that they liked.

What is all the fuss?

I'm not too sure, actually. They need to understand people can do what ever they want in a free country.

 

[Davey Gaga]

I'm not too sure on the specifics but I think the whole point of portraying him as things (a person, a teddy bear, whatever) negates the point that he has no form, and giving him form downplays his importance or something like that. I understand the offense, I just don't agree with it.

 

[Æon Flux]

I think its a bit drastic of them, everyday something happens thet upsets someone I think its rather ignorant to take away peoples use of a site based on a persons own feelings.
But then again their "Government" is drasticaly different than my own. Im sure Pakistan citizens are rather use to these types of things.
But then again I think the whole issue regarding this is rather redundant. Seriously people need to calm down and smell the roses so to speak.....Find better things to do with their obvious amount of free time

 

[The Witch]

Agreed, Ether.

It is pretty bad that all of Pakistan won't get the site anymore but--they're not missing out.

 

[Linnaete]

While I genuinely understand the concerns of the Pakistani government that militants will react violently to such an event, was it really necessary to close down access to Facebook completely in the whole country? So we have millions of decent, hardworking Pakistanis denied the right to use a site in what is supposed to be an established, free democracy?

I respect the Islam religion and the sensitivities they have to certain things, but it does get rather ridiculous to the point that religion continues to override personal freedom. There are of course even more extreme cases than this (this is really tame as a whole actually), but still it's the intimidation of a dangerous minority causing drastic measures all over again.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

I don't particularly agree with it, I can understand why they did it though. Laws are heavily dictated by morals. Pakistan is heavily Muslim orientated. Muslims' morals are against the drawing of Muhammad. The obvious outcome would be that it is banned.

All being said, why they've just blocked Facebook is beyond me.

 

[der Astronom]

And see, this is exactly what I mean by freedom of ignorance: you're allowed to utilize it. And in countries where freedom of speech doesn't exist, there's nothing wrong with that. The rest of us, who have freedom of speech, are still allowed to enjoy whatever comes out of draw Mohammed day.

Of course, I don't necessarily agree with the way they do things, but that's precisely why I don't live there.

 

[Rasputin]

So what I'm getting here is that the Pakistani government is filled with idiots, Muslim fundamentalists are ridiculously oversensitive, and religious fanatics should avoid social networking services. What didn't we know already?

 

[Ewan]

This isn't really out of the ordinary for me. I used to live in Saudi Arabia where the government controls the flow of almost everything into the country, including information. If a website had the midriff of a woman showing, it would be blocked. That's how strict it was. Magazines had pages ripped out of them and CD covers would be blacked out if there was flesh showing.

So where I've come from, this is completely normal. I still think it's absolutely ridiculous because, as people have already said, it's freedom of expression. But countries like Pakistan where the dominant faith is Islam, freedom of expression is very limited.

I'm sure they'll unblock it soon though. It's not like you couldn't find drawings of Muhammad on the internet before anyway.

 

[Jamesy]

I'm not too sure, actually. They need to understand people can do what ever they want in a free country.

Define free country pls.

 

[The Witch]

Define free country pls.

Usually--America. A place where people can say what they want without being beheaded or thrown in jail.

A place where each individual makes up his or her mind by the means of their own opinions and not because of something a powerful leader tells them to think or feel.

 

[Saints&Storms]

Me thinks I will draw Mohammed - err whatever his name is, I feel I have to excersise my rights or I'll lose them as I would my muscles.

This draws me back to South Park though I can't lie, all these people drawing Mohammed have an oddly strong courage to stand in the face of people who have already attacked us once and show they are not afraid.

Religion really is the reason people kill and cause war no?

 

[Jamesy]

Usually--America. A place where people can say what they want without being beheaded or thrown in jail.

A place where each individual makes up his or her mind by the means of their own opinions and not because of something a powerful leader tells them to think or feel.

Ah, yes, America with its amazing human rights records and the most comprehensive secretive spying network since the Stasi.

The American public are one of the most gullable out there. Away on love.

 

[CassinoChips]

Ah, yes, America with its amazing human rights records and the most comprehensive secretive spying network since the Stasi.

The American public are one of the most gullable out there. Away on love.

What? What does our human rights record have to do with drawing Muhammad? Or freedom of expression for that matter?

As Ewan said, this country has different values than ours. It's their prerogative to deal with social networking however they deem necessary. And let's be honest, it's not like they're depriving their citizens of A) something vital to life (food/water/access to schools/hospitals/what have you); or B) a critical source of information. Unless, of course, you consider "I bet I can find 1,000,000 people who liek mudkipz" need-to-know info. I doubt you'll see too many people rioting in the streets over this.

 

[Rasputin]

Ah, yes, America with its amazing human rights records and the most comprehensive secretive spying network since the Stasi.

The American public are one of the most gullable out there. Away on love.

Cite your ridiculous claims or don't bother posting. Yeah, we have the Patriot Act, but it sure as heck beats living in Europe with their prudish gun control regulations and ridiculous cultural sensitivity laws, or third world Muslim countries who's claim to fame is that they have most of their women covered in Burkas. America isn't the "freest" country in the world, but it's pretty darn close.

 

[Donald Trump]

What? What does our human rights record have to do with drawing Muhammad? Or freedom of expression for that matter?

Nothing, it's just the usual hypocrisy. America lovely democracy loving place that does arms deals with whoever, supports and funds despots and operates Guantanamo Bay. This has nothing to with America, yet it is always annoying.

Anyway this has nothing to do with free speech or censorship. That's not why they don't show Muhamed on TV. And what does drawing a picture of Muhamed do? I think it's an attempt to ridicule a religion whilst claiming that they're doing it for free speech.

 

[der Astronom]

Anyway this has nothing to do with free speech or censorship. That's not why they don't show Muhamed on TV. And what does drawing a picture of Muhamed do? I think it's an attempt to ridicule a religion whilst claiming that they're doing it for free speech.

Well ja, ridiculing religion is part of free speech; the whole reason you're allowed to do it and not suffer repercussions is because of free speech. People like Pat Condell wouldn't be allowed their religious comedy if it weren't for free speech. And people ridicule religion because it's a form of satirical criticism against the flaws that religion brings--nothing is too sacred to be scrutinized. And if you don't like it, just cover your ears. That's exactly what the Muslims are doing with their Internet censorship.