#Pakistan Facebook YouTube Ban -Twitpic posted by @ Pakblogger: "Islamic parties/organizations/groups united and on roads to get Facebook banned in Pakistan"

Pakistan blocked access to Facebook on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 following the highly controversial “Everybody draw Muhammad Day” Facebook group, and one day later YouTube is shut down as well.

The blanket ban on social media comes a day before the Everybody Draw Mohammed Day, May 20, 2010, which is being celebrated today on Facebook.

Twitter is going abuzz with a multitude of opinions over the controversial debate between religion and freedom of speech.

While some are criticizing the government of Pakistan for unfairly reacting and declaring a war on social media.

1. 
   Faisal1982 Pakistan’s banning of #facebook to me isn’t a solution. They did an offense and the muslims replied it with a meelad-mehfeel on the 20th May 20 May 2010 from web
2. 
   ahimsa86 Pakistan’s censorhip of facebook and YouTube brings to light the need for more (culturally sensitive) secularism..still a lot of work to do 20 May 2010 from Echofon
3. 
   sloanb What happened to choice? “After Facebook, Pakistan Blocks YouTube Over Sacrilegious Content” http://viigo.im/3zPX 20 May 2010 from Viigo

Others are simply amused.

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   thetanmay Facebook shouldn’t have suggested “India” as a friend to Pakistan. Now look what happened. 20 May 2010 from web
2. 
   GenniferwithaG Brilliant. RT @haydenblack: Pakistan blocks Facebook. Apparently Musharraf was sick of getting poked by the White House. 20 May 2010 from UberTwitter
3. 
   abidifactor @RaxaXaidi They wont unban until facebook has removed Pervez Musharraf’s fan page too #Facebook #Pakistan 20 May 2010 from TweetDeck in reply to RaxaXaidi

While some are dissecting the possible consequences.

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   TimKalyegira China blocked Facebook & Twitter, Pakistan has now blocked Facebook & YouTube and these are large population markets that can’t be ignored. 20 May 2010 from web

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   SlickSalmon #SMM Facebook may make prophet page inaccessible in Pakistan: Facebook is disappointed at being blocked in Pakista… http://bit.ly/aItVCs 20 May 2010 from twitterfeed

“Obviously (the blocking of Facebook) is related to the objectionable material that was placed on Facebook. That is why it is blocked…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” (Khoram Ali Mehran, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, CNN)

Drawing Prophet Muhammad seems to be the going trend these days.

• Muslims consider it offensive to visually represent Prophet Muhammad.
• Anti-Muslim parties are well aware of this fact, and gladly abuse it.
• The result: Newton’s third law, To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

Mimi Sulpovar started the Facebook group in the aftermath of the South Park Bleeps Prophet Muhammad incident. She defends her group with the following statement on CNN.

“Hate speech is wanting a group eradicated, physically harmed or dead. I don’t think drawing Mohammed falls under that category…Islam is not above criticism or cartoons. I believe in equality, and censoring Mohammed while we can draw every other figure in the world does not equal equality”

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations explains the rage over the group.

“Islam discourages any visual representations of the prophets of God — Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, anybody — because we believe it can lead to a form of idol worship…The majority of Muslims worldwide object to any representation of a prophet of God.”

Mocking a religion to exercise your Freedom of Speech is bound to come under fire.

1. 
   WaqarRiaz If u know something will trigger a reaction not very positive – why do it anyways? so, wat shud b done with Facebook & Youtube in Pakistan? 20 May 2010 from web
2. 
   RAGreeneCNN Good morning from London. For better or for worse, it is “Draw Mohammed Day.” Many people are angry. http://bit.ly/9yewaU 20 May 2010 from web