Internet Censorship Continues Due to "Everybody Draw Mohammad Day"

Pakistani officials said Internet censorship was the only option after a court order was made.

Article Source

Pakistan acknowledged the "suffering" caused by its bans on Facebook and YouTube, but said it would only consider restoring the websites if they take down pages considered offensive to Islam, the information technology ministry said Friday.

The government has asked both sites to block the offending pages and was expecting a reply soon, Najibullah Malik, the secretary at the ministry said. Facebook has said that may be a solution, but did not specify if it — or the Pakistani government — should restrict the content.

Other sites have also been affected in the country as officials scramble to block content related to a Facebook page called "Everybody Draw Mohammad Day!" which encourages users to post images of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, purportedly in support of freedom of speech.

Most Muslims regard depictions of the prophet, even favorable ones, as blasphemous.

I say that all these sites should stand their ground and not submit to blocking the content. Just my view, take it as you will.

Originally posted by UberL33t
Pakistan acknowledged the "suffering" caused by its bans on Facebook and YouTube, but said it would only consider restoring the websites if they take down pages considered offensive to Islam, the information technology ministry said Friday.

Hey Pakistan, I have an idea.... if it's offensive, just don't visit that page. There's a solution for ya'!

Originally posted by traditionaldrummer

Originally posted by UberL33t
Pakistan acknowledged the "suffering" caused by its bans on Facebook and YouTube, but said it would only consider restoring the websites if they take down pages considered offensive to Islam, the information technology ministry said Friday.

Hey Pakistan, I have an idea.... if it's offensive, just don't visit that page. There's a solution for ya'!

You know that idea makes good sense.

People with good sense would follow that idea.

Unfortunately where there is no sense...

I don't get it. They can't depict Mohammad in illustrations due to idolatry reasons, yet they are allowed to name their sons after their most holy prophet, Mohammad. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I wonder how many more people will be hostile to Religious-Museum politics in Pakistan, now that their "holy" government has taken away their precious, facebook? This is where the Pakistani government is being really non-sensible (as well as a tyrannical, "joy killer").

Hey Pakistan, I have an idea.... if it's offensive, just don't visit that page. There's a solution for ya'!

You don't get do you? It's not about being offended by what Museum men see on the Internet. Many fundamentalists would, probably, still stone a Modem "to death" if they discovered one, so just imagine what would they would do to a whole computer? (I know they would certainly burn mine!)
The thing they find most offensive is that other "Muslims" i.e. people who (according to their way of thinking) should be Muslims anyway's, because they were "fortunate" enough to be born & raised in Pakistan) are now being "corrupted" by secular "concepts". Concepts such as: don't throw petrol bombs, at your national riot police, all because someone (somewhere) published "bad" cartoon.

It basically enrages them their people are choosing to tolerate ideas, corporations, Internet sites ect that "aren't Islamic enough" (i.e. to many, anything less than 100%). They see the situation as not themselves being old-fashioned, undereducated, tyrannical fools, but instead as an issue of their young being "corrupted" by the forces-followers of Satan. They don't think their culture is experiencing change, but rather see it only in terms of destruction.

The only people I feel really sorry for, are those e.g. 18 year old, Pakistani's who will continue to use facebook; and then, as a result, get put in some medieval man's, Police Station's -"interrogation" room.

[edit on 090705 by Liberal1984]

reply to post by UberL33t


what makes this any diffrent then Australia and other countries which do it over less trivual reasons?

as i was told by another member there is no such thing as free speach in a democarcy, so if thats the case for that,
how is this any better then what happens in Pakistan in this case?

It has gotten worse...

Pakistan bans 1,000 websites over cartoon row

Pakistan banned more than 1,000 web links and proxy sites containing 'sacrilegious' cartoons of Prophet Mohammed and other hate materials, officials said Friday.

The fresh ban comes a day after Pakistan authorities blocked video sharing site YouTube and social networking site Facebook, where a group announced an online competition for cartoons of Prophet Mohammed to be held Thursday.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) officials told Geo News that filters are being installed on the directives of federal government to implement the verdict of the Lahore High Court.

and...

Pak bans Twitter for carrying blasphemous contents

Following a ban on famous networking website Facebook, and popular video sharing portal YouTube, another immensely admired social networking site-Twitter has been banned in Pakistan for carrying blasphemous contents.

Hundreds of Twitter users tried in vain to log in to their accounts as a message- "This site has been restricted," was displayed on their computer screens.

Acting on the Lahore High Court's decision the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had earlier directed all internet service providers in the country to shut down both Facebook and YouTube, as protests against the sacrilegious depiction of Prophet Muhammad on these two sites intensified across the country.

and...

Pakistanis protest against 'blasphemous' cartoons

Thousands of Pakistanis took to the streets Friday to protest against 'blasphemous' caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed on the social networking website Facebook and video sharing site YouTube.

Angry crowds gathered after Friday prayers across Pakistan and chanted slogans against Facebook users who have organised an 'Everyone Draw Mohammed Day' competition.

The online organisers of the event claim that they are promoting freedom of expression, but most Muslims consider depictions of Mohammed to be blasphemous.

Man they're really pissed

Geez, all this talk but where are the pictures?

Gimme Mo Toons!

LOL. It's no better right here on ATS

Example: some weeks ago, in a thread about Knights Templar, I quoted a passage from a current Western book. I provided the name of the author, copyright date and ISBN No.

My entire posts were 'removed' in their entirety and I was penalised 'points wise'

Reason: the quoted passage described a mummified head, complete with description by several senior Templars (as duly recorded by the Catholic Inquisitors)

It was conjectured that the head was that either of Christ himself, or John the Baptist


And that's right there, in 'deny ignorance' land


So we have no room to criticise the muslims. Instead we (and the person or Mod who didn't like what they read about the Templars, so censored/removed it) need to remove the logs from our own eyes before we start pointing at identical splinters in muslims' eyes

And maybe we should rename ATS as 'little Pakistan' ?

at least it is not as bad as Larry David peeing on a portrait of Jesus.

Larry David insults Catholics

reply to post by UberL33t


Hundred percent AGREE! I abhor censorship (and am hot I had a youTube video pulled for TOS, when the worst language and only name-calling was toward me, not anything I said) and participated with a non-offensive picture at FB DMD. If people choose to live in the 4th century, they should choose where to live and what they read accordingly. If you want to be Muslim, fine, but your law does not apply to me. I am a member of a Church with a lot of rules, I chose that Church and will live by those rules, but know everyone else has to live their lives according to they own conscience.
Muslims, it's called tolerance. It applies to all aspects of life in countries with freedoms. Get over it.

reply to post by stars15k


Actually there's something called respect as well. ie. Respecting someone else's belief's and their role models. Not making a mockery out of them requires some level of understanding and ethics.
What purpose does this Draw Muhammad day serve?
Amusement?
Get it from trashy tv shows.
Please do not label this immature act of provocation as being Tolerant and Open minded and an act of freedom of expression. Have you read the comments on those pages? They hardly seem like they're from tolerant people themselves.
If people are ready to condone such acts then they should be prepared for a response from the other side. I'm not saying it's the correct response but really, what the hell was the point of all this?

reply to post by jujubug


The point of it all is that in a country with freedom of religion, expression, and press, we can and will print what we choose, and will not bow down to those stepping on those rights. Especially from the outside. I agree that the overwhelming percentage of "participants" didn't 'get it'. They should be ashamed of themselves. But they have the right to produce that image and have it published. Your rights end when you step on mine. I'm kind of hard to offend, and can think of few things I've seen or read that would> I am offended by intolerence and censorship. Someone right here at ATS told me that I didn't have the right to post here, because I did not share his views. Huh? This is a forum for open debate, where claims made are expected to be proven or questioned.
The greatest and best way to not be offended by something on the web, tv, or radio (do people still listen to radio?) is to use the power button. The greatest and best way to not be offended by print is to not read. If you want to not be offended, avoid what offends you, don't demand that all live by your mores.

Censorship serves a great purpose, but there is such a thing as too much censorship. Does anyone really KNOW What Muhammad looks like? Since there’s no images of him, all of them are destroyed and his image is banned? So how the hell do you (Or ANYONE ELSE) know what the Real Muhammad looks like, if his image has to be destroyed immediately and there is no visual records of it? How come its not banned unless the NAME Muhammad is applied to a picture? Is it REALLY The image that’s offensive? Or is it just the title slapped on the image? I could draw a picture of anything and it would be okay, but when that same picture has the name Muhammad slapped on it, it INSTANTLY Turns evil? THAT in itself makes NO SENSE.

As for censorship, im all for it, but only to a certain degree. there are certain things that offends EVERYONE, like Child-porn. Aswell as Sexism, torture, animal abuse etc... those are things that need censored when its in public view or earshot, and things such as Child-pornography, rape, animal abuse etc, those things ALL need gotten rid of for good. Someone told me once that theere were video-instruction on how to make explosives and bombs. Those are things that also needs banned from a social site where any whacko has access to it. Do you want your teenager or spouse learning how to make lethal poison, or explosives/bombs? We're living in an age where prettymuch everyone has so much angst and are hell-bent on taken everyone down w/ them. What do you think the kids from Columbine would be doing w/ that type of info? If YouTube was around back then, the whole incident woulda been a hell of a lot worse.

We have censorship for a reason. Do you let your 5yr old kids go to Nude Beaches? Or would you let people walk around completely nude and engaged in vulgar activities on a Public beach where there is children? No? good. Do you let your kids watch vulgar programs on TV? No? Good, that’s what censorship is for. Its for protection. But when so-called censorship is applied in order to trample people's artistic freedom, and to stamp out people's fun, it becomes a completely different issue. There’s a difference between censorship and down-right stupidity. The whole ban on these sites just for Draw Muhammad day, was Stupidity. It could have very well been referring to Muhammad Ali (i don’t think i spelled it right, but i think you get the point) Why is it more important to them to burn down an image AFTER a Name has been applied?

And to tell you honestly, when i read the title of this thread, i honestly laughed my ass of at it, because of the stupidity of religiously zealous Muslims, all because of any given image with a certain NAME.

Think about THAT.

Guys,
Clearly I'm not getting any one who agrees with me here.Lol.


"The point of it all is that in a country with freedom of religion, expression, and press, we can and will print what we choose, and will not bow down to those stepping on those rights"

Really? So you'll go ahead and print porn simply because you can?
Someone could defend that by saying they have a right to express themselves no matter how absurd.

Please try to remember that a lot of Muslim's deeply love and respect Muhammad and his teachings so if when someone goes ahead and draws a cartoon of Muhammad Muslims will take it as mockery and offence. Your right ends where mine begin. So that way Muslims too have a right to ban these websites and their content.

No actually i'd rather talk it over with someone than not indulge in what is offensive. It's there so ya can't escape it. 0...o

reply to post by UberL33t


Sounds to me like some countries need to adopt the Separation of Church and State priciple.

Honest to pete. They (Pak Gov't) have enough other crap to handle and deal with than this stuff.

It does show how they think one should be-no free thought, or thoughts that don't agree with the Gov't are not allowed.

I am pretty sure this is no what Mohammaed thought his religion would turn into. He must be turning in his grave.

Now I am slidding back to the: The USA must kick the crap out of all of those moronic/backwards freaks mood.

Great thread.

Originally posted by jujubug

If people are ready to condone such acts then they should be prepared for a response from the other side.

The "draw mohammad" day IS the response from "the other side".

This is a non-violent protest and a rejection of the surge of violence and death originating from people who feel offended.

Respect is also a two-way street. Most westerners DO respect the right of muslims to have their beliefs. But many muslims DO NOT respect our tradition of free speech and the right to question and critique religions.

To abandon these rights and principles because of a threat of violence is cowardice and treasonous to freedom.

Originally posted by jujubug
Actually there's something called respect as well. ie. Respecting someone else's belief's and their role models. Not making a mockery out of them requires some level of understanding and ethics.

There's also something called 'the sanctity of human life' - especialy when a 'religious' country appears to have utter contempt for the principle.

“295-C: Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet: whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”

Link

[edit on 02/10/08 by karl 12]

The censorship continues only because we allow it to.

If facebook or any other of the websites take those pages down, that is just simple proof the Religious Extremism runs the world.

In that case, the war on terror is just a farce was we thought it was all along.

~Keeper

What I find very sad about this entire issue is the following:
If you draw or speak ill of the prophet Mohammad, or write something negative about the muslim religion, (And even the US federal government is hesitent about stating such as seen in the recent hearing with the US AG Holder) then those who are Muslim in religion are all up in arms, screaming and making threats, but they can post, and state death to this group or the other group. I believe that it is an affront to the very nature of the freedom of speech, and those who live in those countries that allow for such, can not have it both ways. The nature of the freedom of speech is that a person can, with in reason, and as long as it does not cause violence, say, draw or post anything they want, no matter how distasteful or in bad form it may seem. And it is the right for those groups who would be insulted, to choose to ignore such, rather than stand there and read such. There are things that the muslims in the US state I do not agree to, and find at times that what they are stating, along with others to be an insult to the very country that they are living in. They need to realize, they can not have it both ways, you can not cry foul if someone says something distasteful and scream for blood, only to turn around and say things like death to a particular group or country. That is a form of discrimination.