Pakistan shuts down Facebook over 'Draw Mohammed' Day

[The_Dude 1,142]

Pakistan shuts down Facebook over 'Draw Mohammed' Day

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- 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

Update: The artist who originally came up with the concept "Draw Mohammed Day", but was not the person who declared an offical day, event, or facebook page has now since denounced the idea.

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I normally would not go out of my way to insult religious groups or anyone for that matter. However, this mentality of religion effecting and dictating what we can do or watch is ridiculous. It's not my religion, if it offends you so much, don't watch.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I normally would not go out of my way to insult religious groups or anyone for that matter. However, this mentality of religion effecting and dictating what we can do or watch is ridiculous. It's not my religion, if it offends you so much, don't watch.

I would say what I think about this but one suspension over this is enough for this month.

[chri'stina 190]

Eeks. Well, I also don't purposely support insulting a religion or religious people. As a Christian there are things sometimes that seem very offensive to me but I can't make other people not do something just because I don't like it. For a government to pull facebook for this, seems extreme. Although it's a shame that anyone would have to have fear for doing something like drawing Mohammed, if they use their real name on FB and participate I'd think that was a very bad idea.

You would think that wouldn't be the only reason a country so concerned with their religion would block facebook if they were going to. I bet there are plenty of immoral, sexual, anti-God groups that should make them go hmmm if they are going to be that strict. But apparently those things don't matter?

[IndigoSkies 168]

That's what they are doing precisely, not watch. By blocking Facebook all together. This is a much better response than violence I would say.

I also plan to just ignore this shenanigan. The less attention we pay to this, the sooner this will go away. The whole reason this cartoons became an issue is because of some idiot Dutch Muslims. The cartoons were drawn many months ago. The Dutch idiot Muslims took it to Egyptian authority who were only too happy to portray themselves as defender of Islam by showing their muscle in Danish embassy in Egypt. Just imagine if the initial group of Muslims didn't make a fuss about this, this would've been gone. Thanks to their ill-conceived protests, the entire world so the cartoons and knew Muslims get upset by these. So they drew even more cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.

So spread the world. Just ignore this and it will go away. Pay attention and protest, it will continue to linger on.

[The_Dude 1,142]

That's what they are doing precisely, not watch. By blocking Facebook all together. This is a much better response than violence I would say.

So spread the world. Just ignore this and it will go away. Pay attention and protest, it will continue to linger on.

That is bullsh!t and you know it. Theo Van Gogh? South Park? Any portrayal of Mohammed on t.v., print, or in a movie and there is sure to be threats of violence.

[chri'stina 190]

That's what they are doing precisely, not watch. By blocking Facebook all together. This is a much better response than violence I would say.

I also plan to just ignore this shenanigan. The less attention we pay to this, the sooner this will go away. The whole reason this cartoons became an issue is because of some idiot Dutch Muslims. The cartoons were drawn many months ago. The Dutch idiot Muslims took it to Egyptian authority who were only too happy to portray themselves as defender of Islam by showing their muscle in Danish embassy in Egypt. Just imagine if the initial group of Muslims didn't make a fuss about this, this would've been gone. Thanks to their ill-conceived protests, the entire world so the cartoons and knew Muslims get upset by these. So they drew even more cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.

So spread the world. Just ignore this and it will go away. Pay attention and protest, it will continue to linger on.

Yes, it is a much better response than violence. However they just made a decision for their entire country's access to facebook. I thought there were other offensive things towards God and a "Prophet" than just drawing Mohammed, so they should have blocked facebook long ago.

[Ban Hammer 12,836]

I would say what I think about this but one suspension over this is enough for this month.

a kinder, gentler aj in the making?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

a kinder, gentler aj in the making?

No, I will merely limit my attacks to groups that are safe to attack on VJ. White people, Mexicans, Christians and Arabs.

[Danno 1,228]

MIght as well accept, these issues and more to come are laying the groundwork for many governments around the world to control the internet.. at least what their people see and read.

Nothings changed.

[Ban Hammer 12,836]

No, I will merely limit my attacks to groups that are safe to attack on VJ. White people, Mexicans, Christians and Arabs.

old white guys are always a safe bet.

[Nagishkaw 510]

That is bullsh!t and you know it. Theo Van Gogh? South Park? Any portrayal of Mohammed on t.v., print, or in a movie and there is sure to be threats of violence.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

old white guys are always a safe bet.

Especially when they're racist and call themselves patriots.

[Jenn! 918]

Draw Mohammed day = stupid.

Getting upset over drawings of Mohammed = stupid.

Inciting violence over it = unacceptable. I think it's a loud minority though, but it makes the most exciting news.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Especially when they're racist and call themselves patriots.

Even more so when they dangle teabags from their colonial style hats and talk about teabagging government

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Even more so when they dangle teabags from their colonial style hats and talk about teabagging government