Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Pakistanis create rival Muslim Facebook
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Pakistanis create rival Muslim Facebook
AFP - Saturday, May 29
Send
IM Story
Print
Pakistanis create rival Muslim Facebook
Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Internet Portals & Search Engines
ISLAMABAD (AFP) - – Pakistanis outraged with Facebook over "blasphemous" caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed have created a spin-off networking site that they dream can connect the world's 1.6 billion Muslims.
A group of six young IT professionals from Lahore, the cultural and entertainment capital of Pakistan, launched www.millatfacebook.com on Tuesday for Muslims to interact online and protest against blasphemy.
The private venture came after a Pakistani court ordered a block on Facebook until May 31, following deep offence over an "Everyone Draw Mohammed Day" page considered "blasphemous" and "sacrilegious".
"Millatfacebook is Pakistan's very own, first social networking site. A site for Muslims by Muslims where sweet people of other religions are also welcome," the website tells people interested in signing up.
Dubbed MFB, after Facebook's moniker FB, its founder says professionals are working around the clock to offer features similar to those pioneered by the wildly popular California-based prototype.
Each member has a "wall" for friends to comment on. The site offers email, photo, video, chat and discussion board facilities.
The Urdu word "Millat" is used by Muslims to refer to their nation. The website claims to have attracted 4,300 members in the last three days -- mostly English-speaking Pakistanis in their 20s.
The number of aficionados may be growing, but the community is a drop in the ocean of the 2.5 million Facebook fans in Pakistan and there have been some scathing early reviews of the start-up.
Neither has Facebook been immediately reachable for comment.
"We want to tell Facebook people 'if they mess with us they have to face the consequences'," said Usman Zaheer, the 24-year-old chief operating officer of the software house that hosts the new site.
"If someone commits blasphemy against our Prophet Mohammed then we will become his competitor and give him immense business loss," he told AFP, dreaming of making "the largest Muslim social networking website".
Once signed up, members are a click away from debate on the bulletin board.
For example, "Enticing Fury" wrote: "The reason is that this forum must be reserved for ALL MUSLIMS OF THE WORLD and not only Pakistan. So using the word MILLAT is very good!
"Well done guys. You have made a great alternative for the whole muslim ummah (nation)!"
But the nascent quality of the work-in-progress website has preoccupied and dismayed some, as well as drawn at least one damning newspaper review.
One member wrote: "they need 2 hav more info". Another posted a mournful: "need games here as well. I missed cafe world" -- referring to the popular Facebook page where members can run their own virtual cafe.
"It was a good idea... as it can give us a forum to connect, but its reach is too limited," Mohammad Adeel, a 31-year-old pharmacist told AFP in Karachi, who joined to keep up with friends he missed due to the Facebook ban.
Local newspaper The Express Tribune was crushing.
"The quality of user experience is so abysmal that it does not merit the humble title, 'Facebook clone'," it wrote online.
"To sum up, MillatFacebook is a bold effort... but it is unlikely to capture a large audience, judging by the online experience it offers currently."
But Zaheer is pleased with his handiwork, saying the site has already attracted members living in Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Pakistani law student Rana Adeel, 21, signed up to MillatFB in Lahore after receiving invites through SMS and email from friends.
"In two days, I got more than seven friends. If the Facebook ban is lifted, I'll keep networking on both," he told AFP.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Steve Jobs steers Apple to the top AFP - Saturday, May 29
Austria bans Google's street view cars over privacy AFP - Saturday, May 29
Pakistanis create rival Muslim Facebook AFP - Saturday, May 29
iPad-mania as thousands queue for global roll-out AFP - Saturday, May 29
Google completes AdMob purchase AFP - Friday, May 28
News Search
Top Stories
Fitch cuts Spain's debt rating over weak growth prospects
Bright sparks Nadal, Federer shine in Paris tennis
OECD pledges to cut deficits, protect growth
German bank gets fresh 10-billion-euro boost
BP pushes on with 'top kill', true slick size emerges
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Internet Portals & Search EnginesLatest development in the online world
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Fergie to appear on Oprah show after scandal
BP pushes on with 'top kill', true slick size emerges
French protest as Europe implements austerity
Obama and family back in Chicago for holiday weekend
US economy weaker than estimated in first quarter
More Most Viewed »
Scientists stunned as grey whale sighted off Israel
Hubble catches planet being devoured by its star
UN fears 'irreversible' damage to natural environment
Earth may be too hot for humans by 2300: study
Ocean fish could disappear in 40 years: UN
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 29 May 2010 French court rejects Noriega jail appeal
Flotilla set for final leg of Gaza blockade-busting bid
Steve Jobs steers Apple to the top
German bank gets fresh 10-billion-euro boost
Bright sparks Nadal, Federer shine in Paris tennis
'Crossbow cannibal' man accused of UK prostitute deaths
Gaza aid flotilla delays departure until Saturday
OECD pledges to cut deficits, protect growth
Austria bans Google's street view cars over privacy
Study Finds Most HIV Pateints Undergo Treatment Late After Diagnosis
Clinton presses Sri Lanka on rights panel
|
Spain Losses AAA Credit Rating
Serbia snaring border migrants to bolster bid for EU
|
Texas Receives Terror Alert From Somali Goverment
Afghan forces battle militants near eastern border
Pakistanis create rival Muslim Facebook
Mother Convicted In Facebook Harassment Case Initiated By Son
Ecuador volcano erupts, villagers evacuate
|
Fighting rages in eastern Afghanistan
"Idol" Winner Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox Sign Record Deals
Yemen separatists kill 3 soldiers
|
Extreme Video Of Dairy Farm Abuse, Misdemeanor Charges Ignite Anger
Backstreet Boys Leave Jive Records
Cyprus bans activists from joining flotilla
|
Ford Looks To End Mercury Brand
Personal Spending Stays Flat, Consumer Confidence Improves
US National Security Strategy Identifies India As Strategic Partner
Brazil, Turkey sharpen tone with US over Iran
Interpol says no call received to arrest Thaksin
China watching from the sidelines again
Prudential re-examines Asian insurer buyout
ADB asks Sri Lanka to reduce size of budget
Standard Chartered bank's India offer oversubscribed
Toyota says global April sales up 21.3 percent on-year
Reliance Industries strikes oil in western India
Management Tip of the Day: Get rid of email dysfunction
|
Book publishers agree change coming; details murky
|
Tobacco industry targeting women in poor countries: WHO
Balkan film festival opens in Transylvania
NY's revamped Coney Island takes flight
US writer pens new adventure for super-spy Bond
Britain struggled to deal with gay rights: archives
Prague secret police lookout gives glimpse back in time
Jordan launches $10 billion Aqaba development
Python Palin thought 'Fish called Wanda' not funny
Tourist-dependent Jamaica suffers image blow
Militants attack Afghan police convoy, killing 5
Markets rattled as Fitch cuts Spain's debt rating
Online bidders hot for Napa Valley wines
Google crowns Facebook king of Internet visits
U.S. out to make China feel awkward, says North Korea
|
Nuclear treaty talks on brink of failure: diplomats
|
India police say Maoists sabotage train
|
Lindsay Lohan wants a Chanel alcohol tag
House Votes to Repeal U.S. Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy on Gays
Thailand ends night curfew in Bangkok, nearby provinces
|
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist Announces Two Weekends Of Statewide License-Free Saltwater Fishing
Nigeria president urges electoral reform by year-end
|
U.S. Markets Drop On Spain Concerns, End May Much Lower
Uranium enrichment not discussed in Iran deal: Brazil
Thai authorities lift Bangkok curfew: PM
Nepal's PM 'ready to resign': spokesman
DOJ, Arizona officials meet over immigration law
Coalition partner threatens to quit Japan's govt.
Minimum and maximum global temperatures in Celsius
China wants peace on the Korean peninsula: Wen Jiabao
U.S. studies options for possible Pakistan attack: report
|
Policeman detained after a death at Vietnam protest
Ecuador volcano erupts, villagers evacuate
|
Nakamura a doubt for Japan-England match
Fire at Iran oil well, three dead: report
|
Death toll mounts in Maoist train sabotage
90 dead in India train wreck
China faces pressure to act over N.Korea at summit
5.4 quake hits northwest China: USGS
Judge orders Toyota to release documents in lawsuit
Apple inquiry focuses on price fixing
|
Gulf sex shop offers marriage guidance
Paris museum where Picasso stolen to reopen June 10
Gary Coleman dies after brain hemorrhage
|
Life after American Idol opens up for Lee and Crystal
|
Bieber-mania sparks search for next teen sensation
|
Idol creator Fuller mounts takeover bid for CKX
|
Oliver Stone: Venezuela's Chavez is misunderstood
|
Rapper Game doesn't play by music-promotion rules
|
Glam rock alive and well with Semi Precious Weapons
|
Drone crew blamed in Afghan civilian deaths
Gunmen kill at least 70 in Pakistan mosque attacks
|
Indian police hunt Maoists after deadly train crash
|
After May madness, Wall Street faces loaded week
Taliban fighters seize district in east Afghanistan
|
Suspect In Shooting Dead Of Brooklyn Teen Arrested
Israeli air strikes target factory, tunnel in Gaza
|
CPSC Warns Memorial Day Weekend Among the Deadliest Holidays for ATV Riders
Instant View: Centre-right lead in Czech parliamentary vote
|
The CPSC Identifies Manufacturers of Toxic Chinese Drywall
Iraq's Maliki stands firm on post of PM
|
Cost Plus / World Market Recalls Tea Glasses Due to Risk of Lead Exposure
Three killed as Turk forces clash with Kurd rebels
|
Buckyballs® High Powered Magnets Sets Recalled by Maxfield and Oberton Due to Violation of Federal Toy Standard
Guatemala girds for first Pacific storm of season
|
Thai PM lifts curfew but casts doubt on 2010 poll
Nepal PM agrees to resign to avert crisis
N.Korea rejects evidence over sinking of S. Korean ship
S.Korea, China, Japan move towards free trade bloc
China calls for official trade talks with S.Korea
Gay activists outwit Moscow police with brief protest
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights