Incoming Fatwa against Facebook

[ZarakiKujata]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06...n_in_pakistan/

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is being investigated by Pakistani police under a section of the penal code that makes blasphemy against Muhammad punishable by death.

BBC Urdu reports — according to a Google Translation — that Pakistan's Deputy Attorney General has launched a criminal investigation against Zuckerberg and others in response to Facebook hosting a "Draw Muhammad" contest on its site late last month. On May 19, Pakistani authorities blocked access to Facebook over the contest, and this ban was lifted on May 31 after Facebook removed the page in Pakistan and other countries.


Asked to comment, a Facebook spokeswoman told us the company does not comment on legal matters.

Last month, according to English-language Pakistani newspaper The News International, a Pakistani High Court judge summoned the police after lawyer Muhammad Azhar Siddique filed an application for a First Information Report (FIR), claiming that the owners of Facebook had committed a heinous and serious crime under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code. In essence, an FIR launches a criminal investigation. But no charges have been filed.

According to the paper, Section 295-C of the penal code reads: "Use of derogatory remark etc, in respect of the Holy Prophet, whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable for fine."

So, peace be unto Muhammad. But not unto Mark Zuckerberg.

According to two reports — one at Boxcrack.net, a kind of citizen journalism site run by Privacy International, and another at Pro Pakistani, a Pakistani Telecom and IT news site that lifted the news from BBC Urdu — the Deputy Attorney General has indeed lodged an FIR against Zuckerberg, fellow co-founders Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes, and "Andy", the German woman who initiated the Draw Muhammad contest under a pseudonym.

According to Pro Paskistani, petitioner Muhammad Azhar Sidiqque said he's waiting for the police to contact Interpol about making arrangements for the arrest of Facebook's owners and "Andy". The site also says that the Deputy Attorney General told the High Court that Pakistan’s United Nations representative has asked to escalate the issue in the UN General Assembly

[Not not Mattaru]

Facebook is bigger than Pakistan.

[Takedown3]

pakistan should have a draw zuckerberg day it's only fair

[Zilong]

Facebook is bigger than Pakistan.

pakistan has nukes

[*Shinzon*]

This reminds me of the time Belgium thought they could prosecute the whole world without having a person present at trial.

[Antithesis]

pakistan has nukes

Oh you.

[dejet]

facebook has college students they can do anything!

[Not not Mattaru]

pakistan has nukes

Zucker just can't go to India.

[oldoldman]

shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable for fine.

made me lol

[Cantih]

classic arson, murder, jaywalking trope

[Fhloston]

lolreligion

[Khajit]

He didn't even organize the damned thing (no pun intended) so they wouldn't be able to logically convict him anyway.

[Acturus]

He didn't even organize the damned thing (no pun intended) so they wouldn't be able to logically convict him anyway.

Logic seems suspiciously absent in this instance.

[Gregorio]

Asked to comment, a Facebook spokeswoman lol'd and told us the company does not give a shit about Pakistan.

Fixed that for them.

[Kaisha]

BBC Urdu reports — according to a Google Translation

TheRegister sure knows how to make proper reports!

[Bladen]

He didn't even organize the damned thing (no pun intended) so they wouldn't be able to logically convict him anyway.

There is no logic in religion.

[Demosthenes11]

There is no logic in religion.

your insight is both original and thought-provoking. please continue posting one liners like this to encourage further thread development and discussion.

you fucking idiot

[Metah]

Nothing is going to happen, what a colossal waste of time

[Headspace]

pakistan should have a draw zuckerberg day it's only fair

this

[Colenzo]

just goes to show how intelligent middle-eastern people are