Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Muslim concerns trigger Pakistani Web bans
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
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Muslim concerns trigger Pakistani Web bans
By CHRIS BRUMMITT,Associated Press Writer -
2 hours 14 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan blocked YouTube and many other Internet sites Thursday in a widening crackdown on online content deemed offensive to Islam, reflecting the secular government's sensitivities to an issue that has ignited protests in the Muslim country.
The move came a day after the government obeyed a court order to block Facebook over a page called "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" that encourages users to post images of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Most Muslims regard depictions of the prophet, even favorable ones, as blasphemous.
Supporters of an Islamist political party protested against Facebook in at least three cities in small and peaceful rallies. The government, which is unpopular among many Islamists for siding with the United States in the war against the Taliban and al-Qaida, is hoping that the website bans will lessen anger in the days ahead.
"We are ready to die protecting the honor of our beloved Prophet Muhammad," said Aysha Hameed, one of 1,000 female protesters in Multan city.
Others _ mostly members of the more secular, educated elite _ accused the government of blocking freedom of expression and hurting small businesses that use Facebook for marketing. Many questioned need for the entire Facebook and YouTube sites to be blocked, instead of individual pages on them.
About 20 million of Pakistan's 180 million people are Internet users and social networking sites are among the most popular, especially among those younger than 25. Pakistan's Internet service providers' association said usage had dropped by about 25 percent since Wednesday.
The offending Facebook page encourages users to post images of the prophet on May 20 to protest threats made by a radical Muslim group against the creators of the American TV series "South Park" for depicting Muhammad in a bear suit during an episode earlier this year.
"Such malicious and insulting attacks hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the world and cannot be accepted under the garb of freedom of expression," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.
Pakistan and other Muslim nations saw large and sometimes violent protests in 2006 when a Danish newspaper published cartoons of Muhammad, and again in 2008 when they were reprinted. Later the same year, a suspected al-Qaida suicide bomber attacked the Danish Embassy in Islamabad, killing six people.
The telecommunications authority did not say what material on YouTube prompted it to block the site and more than 450 other unidentified pages, only citing "growing sacrilegious contents." Wahajus Siraj, the head of the Internet service providers' association, said the ban was because images of the Prophet Muhammad were also cropping up on the video-sharing site.
Blackberry service was halted for around 10 hours as efforts were made to stop mobile access to Facebook.
The government acted against Facebook and YouTube after it failed to persuade the websites to remove the offensive material, the telecommunications authority said. It said representatives from the two websites were welcome to contact the Pakistani government to resolve the dispute.
Facebook said the page was not a violation of its terms, but suggested it may be prepared to take it down.
"In cases like this, the approach is sometimes to restrict certain content from being shown in specific countries," it said in a statement.
In Washington, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters Thursday that the United States respects Pakistan's legal efforts to protect citizens from offensive speech. He said many images on Facebook were deeply offensive to Muslims. But he said Pakistan must also be sure not to restrict the speech of those using the Internet.
Pakistan is governed by a secular political party that has little time for Islamic issues. But arguing against the court order would leave it open to accusations by its political opponents of siding with those blaspheming the prophet.
"The Islamist parties have been on the back foot for a while, this is a nice little issue for them to campaign about," said Cyril Almeida, a liberal media columnist. "There is no way you can have a rational debate in Pakistan about freedom of speech when one side is talking about blasphemy."
The five customers in the Dandy Net Cafe in Islamabad late Thursday afternoon agreed with the ban.
"We are very happy our government and our court has taken these actions," said Mohammad Aamir Chohan, a 28-year-old engineer. "I know blocking these sites is not a solution to the problem, but we have sent a message to the world not to hurt the feelings of Muslims."
Feelings were just as intense among those opposed to the ban.
"Sad and embarrassing day in the history of Pakistan," one user posted on the microblogging site Twitter.
Reba Shahid, the editor of Spider, a monthly print magazine about the Internet, said the government "might as well take away cell phones and shut off electricity, do the whole thing."
"You're stemming the flow of information, you're stemming my growth as an intellectual, you're stemming my access to the rest of the world. I might as well go home and sleep," she said.
Pakistan blocked access to YouTube for two days in 2008 because of what it said was unIslamic content. Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia and Morocco have all blocked access to YouTube in the past for various reasons, while China routinely bans Facebook and YouTube.
It remains to be seen how successful the government will be at keeping Internet users away from the blocked sites. Citizens often have little trouble working around a ban by using proxy servers and other means.
"What's common to Facebook and Lashkar-e-Taiba?" one user on Twitter wrote, referring to a Pakistani militant group that is banned but has an alleged front group that operates openly. "They are both banned in Pakistan, but Pakistanis can still find them if they want to."
___
Associated Press writers Sebastian Abbot, Zarar Khan and Anita Chang in Islamabad and Foster Klug in Washington contributed to this report.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Thai troops hunt militants as Bangkok smoulders AFP - 43 minutes ago
N.Korean torpedo sank S.Korean warship: investigators AFP - 49 minutes ago
Bangkok counts its losses after downtown rioting AP - 1 hour 5 minutes ago
Pakistan blocks YouTube, Facebook as backlash grows AFP - 1 hour 12 minutes ago
South Korea says North torpedoed ship, tensions rise Reuters - 1 hour 18 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
US team creates first 'synthetic life'
France's Sarkozy denies rift with Germany over debt crisis
Paris museum burglar grabs 120-million-dollar art haul
Blood diamond prosecutors seek to subpoena Naomi Campbell
Judge issues arrest warrant for Lindsay Lohan
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Japan town bans public servants from growing beards
Euro slips, German ban keeps markets under tension
Tuberculosis most deadly of 'neglected' diseases
Obama turns on glamour for Mexico state dinner
US Fed sees stronger economic recovery
More Most Viewed »
Scientists stunned as grey whale sighted off Israel
Lack of sleep linked to early death: study
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 Friday, 21 May 2010 Maliki attends Iraq leaders' lunch, Allawi abroad
Paris museum burglar grabs 120-million-dollar art haul
France sees majority backing for Iran sanctions
German '4G' phone auction raises over 4.3 billion euros
Google unveils platform to bring Web to TV set
Darfur rebels and army clash, peace hopes fade
US-TECH Summary
US team creates first 'synthetic life'
ETA suspect held in France 'is group's top leader'
Google, Sony, Intel join on Web television project
Blood diamond prosecutors seek to subpoena Naomi Campbell
Iran may cancel atom swap deal if sanctions passed
|
German minister stresses privacy rights with Google chief
France's Sarkozy denies rift with Germany over debt crisis
Turkish planes bomb targets in Northern Iraq: Turkish media
|
Judge issues arrest warrant for Lindsay Lohan
Paris police ban mass "Facebook aperitif" party
Sri Lanka's detained ex-army chief denies war crimes
|
Libya plane crash black boxes flown to France
|
India telecom firms pay heavy price for 3G prize
Microsoft chief sees software future in the Internet 'cloud'
Spain unions to battle pay cuts for civil servants
|
Mitsubishi rolls out new electric car in Hong Kong
U.S. fails to describe wireless industry as competitive
German '4G' phone auction raises over 4.3 billion euros
Google unveils Internet television platform
Muslim concerns trigger Pakistani Web bans
US-TECH Summary
NKorea warns of war if punished for ship sinking
Wreckage of airliner seen on Afghan mountainside
Fix broken, inefficient US immigration system: Mexican leader
Veteran Myanmar opposition politician dies at 87
Annual US-China talks to focus on Iran, currency
Oil hits shore as BP scoops up 5,000 barrels a day
Indonesian film portrays Obama's early years
Ramos-Horta says East Timor finds peace at last
Thailand mops up, but fears of long-term strife
Google premieres Web television gamble
|
Afghan militants holds talks in Maldives
Paris police ban mass Facebook aperitif party
|
US lawmakers blast Toyota over defect probe
India's Jet Airways sees 11 percent profit rise
Cairn Energy to increase Indian oil project output
Toyota to 'voluntarily' repair over 22,000 compact cars
Asian nations must coordinate stimulus exit plans: ADB
China says 3,000 officials punished for construction graft
Celebrated Indonesian singer Gesang dies at 92
Lily Allen scoops top prizes at Ivor Novello Awards
Taiwan activists protest against China trade pact
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Taiwan economy sees biggest growth in over 30 years
Rap mogul Suge Knight arrested in Los Angeles
Prosecutors seek Naomi Campbell testimony in Taylor trial
Lohan faces arrest after missing court date
Oil threatens French-speaking Cajuns, native Choctaw
Moscow mayor bans gay pride march: organiser
Second detained Iranian director on hunger strike
Lost fans abroad get quick finale broadcasts
|
Lohan faces arrest after missing court date
|
Sex and the City sequel takes on Middle East
|
Rap mogul Suge Knight arrested in Los Angeles
|
Prosecutors seek Naomi Campbell testimony in Taylor trial
|
Epic French film treats Carlos the Jackal at Cannes
|
Iran may cancel atom swap deal if sanctions passed
Europe finance heads mull tighter fiscal monitoring
South Korea vows caution over ship as North sees war
|
Paris museum burglar grabs 120-million-dollar art haul
Google bringing Web to TV set
Early Thai election possible: finance minister
|
US Senate passes historic Wall Street overhaul
Dell profit surges on revived business spending
Taliban attack Afghan police base camp: officials
|
Android update turns Google phones into Wi-Fi hot spots
Looney Tunes Back In Action With New 3D Short, Television Series
Dow index suffers biggest drop in more than a year
Suspected Taliban blow up U.S. spies in Pakistan
|
Google will 'fight' for AdMob: Schmidt
Dell Q1 Earnings Jump On Growing PC Sales
US cartoonist disavows 'Draw Mohammed' Facebook page
Three Britons killed in Pakistan over family feud
|
BP Ordered To Switch To Less Toxic Dispersant, Admits More Oil Leaking
Annoyed by cellphones? Scientists explain why
U.S. Markets Continue Slide As European Debt Worries Remain
After Facebook, Pakistan shuts down YouTube
Mexican President's Speech To Congress On Drugs, Immigration Gets Mixed Response
New Chinese fighter jet expected by 2018: U.S. intelligence
|
Swedish Internet provider to take filesharing case to supreme court
Wall Street Reform Bill Passes First Senate Hurdle
US-TECH Summary
Malawi gay couple sentenced to 14 years in jail
|
MTV Picks Up "Teen Wolf" Series
Older Adults Who Don't Follow Medication Instructions Fall More
Google, Sony, Intel join on Web television project
Bomb blast in southern Afghan city kills civilian
Sri Lanka's detained ex-army chief denies war crimes
|
Animals Die In Fire At Berkeley Shelter
Rights group offers evidence of Sri Lanka war crimes
Democrat Chief Kaine Takes Stock, Announces All Out Effort For Midterm Elections
Spain unions to battle pay cuts for civil servants
|
2 Ark. police killed during traffic stop on I-40
SKorea calls for cautious response to ship sinking
Canada's 'Prince of Pot' extradited to US
Taiwan writer held at World Expo over t-shirt: report
US top spy quits after intelligence failures
Early Thai election possible
Louisiana marshes hit by Gulf oil slick
Suspected Taliban blow up "U.S. spies" in Pakistan
Clinton starts Asia tour as N.Korea tensions rise
US top spy quits 'with deep regret'
Another Foxconn worker dies in China; 8th in 2010
Obama's intelligence czar to resign: US official
South Korea vows caution over ship as North sees war
Thailand picks up the pieces after deadly conflict
Google premieres Web television gamble
|
Toyota recalls Lexus cars in Japan, US to follow
Excessive rise of yen undesirable: Japan FM
Japan's economy 'starting to recover moderately': BoJ
PAKISTAN
Japan central bank keeps interest rates unchanged
S.Korea sees limited market impact from tension with North
Indonesians fear for 'Reformasi'
Lindsay Lohan dodges arrest warrant
Indonesian film portrays Obama's early years
PetroChina shares fall after investment plan announced
Filmmakers planning Comic-Con documentary
NZ consumer confidence perks up in May
US, EU irked by stalled Japan Post privatisation
"Scream 4" lures "Twilight" and "Heroes" vets
Toyota teams up with Tesla to make electric cars
Ten years on, Israel wrestles with Lebanon pullout
Latest "Shrek" sequel eyes $100 million opening
Usher replaces Eminem atop singles chart
"Glee," Rolling Stones eye top of albums chart
Mike Leigh and monks vie for top Cannes film prize
Arrest warrant lifted for Lindsay Lohan
|
Simon Cowell speaks of depression, admits mistakes
|
Latest Shrek sequel eyes $100 million opening
|
Buzz in short supply at Cannes
|
Filmmakers planning Comic-Con documentary
|
Glee, Rolling Stones eye top of albums chart
|
Scream 4 lures Twilight and Heroes vets
|
Lost fans abroad get quick finale broadcasts
|
Usher replaces Eminem atop singles chart
|
Iran sanctions won't stop missiles
Euro rescue package clears German parliament
British Airways reports record annual loss of £531m
Police hunt Paris art thief after $120 mln heist
Wreckage of Afghan plane, bodies found: minister
Bosnian police in major organized crime crackdown
|
Sony, Samsung meeting seen focusing on LCD panels
Israeli army kills 2 armed Palestinians from Gaza
|
Police break Vietnam immigrant trafficking ring
|
South Sudan swears in first elected president
|
Spain court convicts 3 ETA members of airport bomb
|
Iran sanctions won't stop missiles: Russian senator
|
Sony, Samsung meeting seen focusing on LCD panels
Colombia presidential race tight days before poll
|
PM calls for reconciliation to heal Thai divide
No survivors found at Afghan airline crash site
AP INVESTIGATION: Texas man faked way into Army
Wall St plunge triggers Asian turmoil
Clinton starts Asia tour as N.Korea tensions rise
Clinton: NKorea must face consequences for attack
Group presents new evidence on abuses in Sri Lanka
US to work closely with new Philippine leader
103 arrested in Indonesian election protest
Taiwan zoo expects no panda cubs before 2011
Sony, Samsung meeting seen focusing on LCD panels
|
Pepsi to invest $2.5 billion in China
Another Foxconn worker dies in China; 9th in 2010
Pakistan stocks, o/n rates down; rupee weakens
Up in smoke: Indonesian child-teen smokers rising
France-Algeria war film sparks Cannes protests
Abbott buys unit of Piramal Healthcare for $3.7B
US says preparing to ease high-tech export controls
Jackson fans to spend night among his possessions
Rising yen casts shadow over Japan recovery
Cannes stars turn out for glitzy AIDS charity bash
Rock 'n' roll nostalgia is sure seller at Cannes
US presses Beijing on clean-energy market access
Cuban drag queens take to the stage
Japan central bank keeps interest rate unchanged
Clinton: US condemns N.Korea sinking of South's ship
U2 frontman Bono undergoes surgery
|
Algerian independence film stirs protest at Cannes
|
Jackson fans to spend night among his possessions
|
Cannes stars turn out for glitzy AIDS charity bash
|
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