Pakistan lifts ban after Facebook apology
Source: Agencies |
June 1, 2010, Tuesday
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PAKISTAN lifted a ban on Facebook yesterday after officials from the social networking site apologized for a page deemed offensive to Muslims and removed its contents.
The move came almost two weeks after Pakistan imposed the ban amid anger over a page that encouraged users to post images of Islam's prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims regard depictions of the prophet, even favorable ones, as blasphemous.
"In response to our protest, Facebook has tendered their apology and informed us that all the sacrilegious material has been removed," said Najibullah Malik, secretary of Pakistan's information technology ministry.
Facebook assured the Pakistani government that "nothing of this sort will happen in the future," Malik said.
Officials from the Website had said earlier the contents of the "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" page did not violate Facebook's terms.
The page encouraged users to post images of the prophet 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.
Pakistan blocked Facebook on May 19 following a ruling by one of the country's highest courts. The Lahore High Court reversed its ruling yesterday because of Facebook's response, paving the way for the government to restore access, Malik said.
The move came almost two weeks after Pakistan imposed the ban amid anger over a page that encouraged users to post images of Islam's prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims regard depictions of the prophet, even favorable ones, as blasphemous.
"In response to our protest, Facebook has tendered their apology and informed us that all the sacrilegious material has been removed," said Najibullah Malik, secretary of Pakistan's information technology ministry.
Facebook assured the Pakistani government that "nothing of this sort will happen in the future," Malik said.
Officials from the Website had said earlier the contents of the "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" page did not violate Facebook's terms.
The page encouraged users to post images of the prophet 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.
Pakistan blocked Facebook on May 19 following a ruling by one of the country's highest courts. The Lahore High Court reversed its ruling yesterday because of Facebook's response, paving the way for the government to restore access, Malik said.
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