Ban Facebook for ever: Pak religious groups

LAHORE, PAKISTAN: The controversy over social networking site Facebook reached a new level, with over two dozen Pakistani religious groups working under the umbrella of the JuD urging the UN to enact a global law "against blasphemy of prophets and awarding death penalty to violators".

The decision to contact the UN and envoys from Muslims and non-Muslim states was made at a meeting of clerics belonging to the JuD, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, Tanzeem-e-Islami, Markaz-e-Ahlesunnat, Muslim Conference, Jamat-e-Ahlehadis, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Pakistan Ulema Council and International Katham-e-Nabuwat, according to a PTI report.

“The ambassadors of Muslim and non-Muslim states will be told that blasphemy against prophets not only hurts the feelings of one religion but also sows a seed of hatred against the people of other religions,” the meeting observed yesterday.

According to reports, about 70 per cent people in Pakistan want a permanent ban on the social networking website, while another 15 per cent support the Lahore High Court’s order to ban the website till May 31.

Following the controversy, Facebook had blocked in India the controversial "Everybody draw Mohammed Day!" page that ignited the row in Pakistan.

“Out of respect for the local regulations, standards and customs, we have decided to restrict access to the 'Everyone Draw Mohammed!' page from India, after being contacted by authorities and reviewing the matter closely," a spokeswoman for Facebook said on Sunday in an email.