Prophets, protests and holocaust

Anyone who’s been on Youtube or Facebook or Blogs in general knows that no intelligent conversation can take place between two Internet-commenters. It’s like the paralympics being hosted on the Interwebs. Even if you win, you’re still retarded. During the last fortnight, ever since this unfortunate drawing contest issue caught fire.

I’ve been reading countless accounts of Pakistani Internet users in a variety of rhetoric styles which all sum up to this one thing: ‘they’ are out to get ‘us’ and they have COOKIES! Ok, I’m just joking about the cookies but I can practically hear Mr. Zaid Hamid saying in the most Dumbledore-esque voice: ‘I will only truly have left the Pakistani minds when none here are loyal to me’. Most of the Pakistanis today are channeling the same spirit which can only be likened to a mental patient caught between acute psychosis, paranoia and schizophrenia. The bottomline is, had we paid any attention to the course ‘Introduction to Logic-374’ in college, we would perhaps be aware of how absurd all our comments and arguments are. I will try to counter some in this post:

1. Blasphemy is a BIG deal:
Yes it is a big deal but so is tolerance. You are claiming to be the followers of a Prophet who preached that conquering wrath and anger is perhaps the bravest thing a man could do. I’m not a religious scholar but I’m quite sure that the Prophet who himself went to visit an old woman who used to throw garbage at him, the Prophet who only had well wishes for a city which reduced him to blood and tears when Angel Gabrielle stood at his command to just say the word and Taif would be history -that Prophet would not condone such inflammatory reactions in his name.

2. Facebook is a two-faced Jew! :
Many have commented that Facebook deleted a group created to make fun of the Jewish Holocaust. They accuse Facebook of having double standards. They ask that why an Arab cartoonist who drew cartoons of holocaust had to attend several hearings while those who drew caricatures of the Prophet went scot-free? My answer to them would be that probably ’cause a cartoon of the holocaust mocks ‘a people’ -specifically Jews. It sends a message that Jews should be persecuted for being Jew. It says that violence/genocide inflicted on Jews is humorous in some way. It cannot be equated with caricatures which target just one personality. Why do you expect them to get why we Muslims are so emotional about any depictions of our Prophet when they make fun of their own prophet i.e. Jesus -who by the way, is God for them? There are numerous groups and pages on Facebook that make fun of Jesus/God -Facebook doesn’t delete them either. I’m not saying that making/posting caricatures is OK, obviously as a Muslim I detest it, but I do get how Facebook won’t delete the said pages. Get over it and stop accusing everything that moves as a ‘JEW’!

3. Cause and Effect:
Let’s do a timeline of what happened, I’ll skip the exact details and will stick to the standard terms ‘they’ and ‘us’:

  1. It all started with an attempt to depict the Prophet in a TV show
  2. They were censored, they reacted by starting a whole drawing contest
  3. They wondered if someone would even join their group/page, which was obviously full of hateful content
  4. Then we reacted by avalanching Facebook with groups and pages demanding its boycott
  5. We made noise, forwarded the said pages/groups to every-one-we-knew, hence spreading the caricatures in the process
  6. They were happy for finally getting some attention and the reaction they expected from us
  7. We commented, updated our statuses, sent text messages etc. with more demands to boycott the pages
  8. They didn’t even dignify our demands with a response
  9. We still insisted that Facebook should delete the said pages
  10. They went fishing and got some good catch for the barbecue. They didn’t really care about us.
  11. We came out on the streets with banners and play-cards to protest
  12. They danced into the night, partying hard and drinking some fine fine wine.
  13. We reported the controversial pages again and again and again.
  14. They slept off the enormous hangover from the previous night.
  15. We decided we could no longer take it, so we banned Facebook, Youtube, parts of Wikipedia, flickr, Google.com.pk on and off
  16. They woke up to find that they were able to get a reaction out of the Pakistani Authorities at a National Level. SCORE!
  17. They high-fived and decided to throw another party. Thanks to us now everyone in the world knows about the stupid caricature contest.

Just wake up and stop being so reactive! Maybe tomorrow they’ll have some t-shirts in the name of ‘Freedom of Speech’ bearing the same caricatures and we would all be to blame for it because we are the ones who became the wind to their wings. We turned what was just a silly unreasonable contest into a world-wide phenomenon.

4. Good Decision, LHC :
It’s not about ‘Freedom of Speech’: Well, actually it is! I have the right to browse the Internet uninhibited and the LHC or PTA has no right to take it away from me. I say everyone who supports this ban, should have their 1-year log of Internet usage made public -then they’ll cry about ‘Privacy’ and ‘Universal rights of freedom to information’

5. We win, Facebook is banned:
Ummm… not really -they’ve won. They elicited the exact reaction they wanted from us. They got publicity through us and they even got rid of us. Now we can’t even go and make our presence felt on Facebook that we detest these caricatures. We can’t flood the whole Facebook with Hadiths and Duroods and campaigns to honor the Prophet have been silenced. Like every time in history, we have chosen to mute ourselves when it was time to make our voices heard.

Oh and by the way, they still don’t care: Pakistan Follows Facebook Ban With YouTube Ban

Comments

176 responses to “Prophets, protests and holocaust”

  1. Nabeel Amin Avatar
    Nabeel Amin

    Some have incomplete knowledge of Islam and Quran/Hadith, that keep on posting the incident of well-known Islamic parable that tells the story of the Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.) and his interactions with an unruly female neighbor, who would curse him violently and then dump garbage on him from her top window each time he walked by her house…

    ..Islam commands us to execute the person who insult ALLAH and Prophet(s.a.w.)..According to tradition (Sunan of Abu Daud: One of the six authentic books of hadith Book no.38 and Hadith no.4349. Narrated by Ali bin Abu Talib), once a jewish women used to insult the Prophet(saw) and used to say bad things about him, so a man strangled her until she died and Prophet(s.a.w.) ruled that no blood money was due in this case..there are many other similar traditions..

    ..Only Prophet(s.a.w.) himself can forgive or ignore those who insulted him but it is binding on us to take action against those who insult the Prophet(s.a.w.).

    1. Shoaib Hussain Avatar
      Shoaib Hussain

      Well that contradicts the first parable. If murdering individuals who have a warped view of Islam is justified, then why did the Prophet (pbuh) not murder all of Mecca when he was victorious?

      If anything, he is respected for his tolerance and mercy. Realistically speaking, it was Gandhi's non-violent protest that brought India freedom, it was Mandela's silent protest that brought down the Apartheid.

      Muhammad (pbuh) never started a war, and was always a pacifist in his policies.

      Your points anre narrow-minded, foolish and in complete contrast to the statement of the Quran, "If you kill one man, it is as if you have killed all of mankind."

      Why do you think people have a warped view of Islam? The only reason I can think of is the way we present ourselves. Kill anyone who opposes it without questioning what caused this opposition in the first place.

      The Mongols went on a rampage against Baghdad, Hitler committed gross acts of persecution against the nations he occupied. Violence breeds hatred. Violence destroys lives.

    2. Tayyab Avatar
      Tayyab

      So basically u r saying that muslim are to make others by force and intimidation to respect or at least not to utter negatively about muhammad even if they find his actions repulsive… it never works!!!! NO one, i repaeat NO one demands that kind of respect for their leaders from others… I wonder how muslims manage to convice themselve about such illogical propositions…..

    3. Al Avatar
      Al

      Nabeel:

      Islam does not command us to execute anyone who insults Allah & the Prophet. You are just twisting the logic.

      What do you think is the biggest insult towards Allah? Associating partners to Him for which Allah says no one will be forgiven on the day of judgment. He might forgive other sins but Shirk is never going to be forgiven. So clearly there can be no bigger sin than this.

      So if what you say was true than muslims would have been ordered to kill all Christians & those jews that believed that Moses was the son of God.

      The orders that were given at that time have to be viewed in perspective. Traitors are condemned to death in many societies & even today most countries have the death penalty for treason. That was the idea behind those orders & injunctions to discourage the kuffar from being opportunistic and converting to Islam only to revert back & then help the kuffar against the Muslims from the inside.

      Otherwise, shouldn't we be slaughtering Christians left right & centre who according to our religion commit the biggest sin & insult possible towards Allah.

    4. Al Avatar
      Al

      Tayyab: Read a little bit before issuing statements. There are many countries in the world where speaking against certain leaders is prohibited & a punishable offense. Two examples on the top of my head: Thailand & Singapore.

      And the idea of banning blasphemous content is not to command respect. No one can force people to change their thinking. But certainly the forums available to such people can & should be controlled. And such form of censorship is exercised around the world. Your argument is really illogical & senseless.

      Tomorrow are you going to support the right of local television channels to show porn under the garb of 'freedom of speech'? Please be clear about what 'freedom of speech' means before defending the obvious double standards of FB.

    5. Al Avatar
      Al

      Tayyab: Read a little bit before issuing statements. There are many countries in the world where speaking against certain leaders is prohibited & a punishable offense. Two examples on the top of my head: Thailand & Singapore.

      And the idea of banning blasphemous content is not to command respect. No one can force people to change their thinking. But certainly the forums available to such people can & should be controlled. And such form of censorship is exercised around the world. Your argument is really illogical & senseless.

      Tomorrow are you going to support the right of local television channels to show porn under the garb of 'freedom of speech'? Please be clear about what 'freedom of speech' means before defending the obvious double standards of facebook.

    6. Gox Avatar
      Gox

      nice arguments Al …very true

    1. MB Avatar

      I have been reading OMJ for long time now and respect his writings and his informative post and thoughts.

      BUT . .

      By trying to give some examples of HOW THE USA AND WEST HAVE PUNISHMENT FOR ANYONE TALKING AGAINST THEIR OWN FAITH

      he is proving that . .

      ISLAM has no BRAIN OF ITS OWN, it is a system of emotional and reactive concepts, in which the ENEMY will dictate our behavior by behaving in a certain way himself.

      I think OMJ has done more damage to ISLAM by this article then any benefit. Because :

      1. ISLAM is a complete structure itself and not a REACTIONARY machine which acts solely on the purpose of the actions of the opponent.

      2. ISLAM has taught PEACE and TOLERANCE (even laid down war rules on the treatment of enemy) irrespective of the behaviors of the infidels.

      3. His logic that since the WEST do have some laws punishing anyone doing anything against their own views, we get the right to CUSTOMIZE our own interpretation of QURAN and PROPHET pbuh's to SUIT our requirements of leveling the score by following their stupidity.

      Sorry OMJ saheb, you need to do a rethink.

    2. Hassan Avatar
      Hassan

      MB,

      ISLAM has no BRAIN OF ITS OWN, it is a system of emotional and reactive concepts, in which the ENEMY will dictate our behavior by behaving in a certain way himself.

      So according to you Islam would only have brain, if Muslims act the way you want them to act? Lol… and that would be to ask Pamela Anderson to go and explain to people the teachings of Islam?

      1. ISLAM is a complete structure itself and not a REACTIONARY machine which acts solely on the purpose of the actions of the opponent.

      Where did you cook this interpretation of Islam? What was Hijra? Not a reaction? What was Ghazwa-e-Badar? Not a reaction? What was the revenge with Banu Quraidah? Not a ractions?

      You and morons like you have very strange interpretation of Islam…NO ITS NOT OMJ, BUT JACK-A$$ LIKE YOU WHO ARE DAMAGING ISLAM

      ISLAM has taught PEACE and TOLERANCE (even laid down war rules on the treatment of enemy) irrespective of the behaviors of the infidels.

      Honestly, go out learn somthing about Islam, instead of cooking it at home with your OWN flavors

      His logic that since the WEST do have some laws punishing anyone doing anything against their own views, we get the right to CUSTOMIZE our own interpretation of QURAN and PROPHET pbuh’s to SUIT our requirements of leveling the score by following their stupidity.

      Again an illogical statement by your ownselft. Who is customizing? YOU and other sell-outs or 99% of Muslims?

      Sorry OMJ saheb, you need to do a rethink.

      NO JACK-A$$ MB, YOU need to learn about Islam instead of cooking your own flavored version

  2. readinglord Avatar
    readinglord

    By banning the faceook,Youtube,etc. do you think you can shut up the mouth of over six billion people of the world and myriads of interacts on the Internet. Just see an interesting interact on 'chowk.com':

    "http://chowk.com/interacts/17311/1/0/32#455332

    #3 Posted by Zeena on May 20, 2010 4:42:13 pm

    I saw those pictures of prophet Mohd(PBUH) myself. I did not find them offensive in any way.

    I am strongly favoring the pictures and not only the pictures I think that we should have movies upon our Prophet's life and we need more pictures to educate young minds.

    And if someone drew some silly cartoons?then let them be, that is their freedom of expression. There is no sensitivity involved in this.

    Pakistan is a very idiosyncratic culture, on one hand it is number one in corruption and with all sorts of evilish deeds and rather lying, cheating and all other corruption is the part and parcel of that culture and is considered norm, where basic human rights are not given to it's poor citizens, where citizens are being murdered daily with extreme lawlessness and extreme poverty…..where begging is norm…

    But, people don't care about those evils in their own society, instead banning a healthy site shows their extreme ignorance, intolerance and uncivilized attitudes. I can only pity them for such non sensical actions…..May God show them the light….Ameen."

    In fact in the Pakiland the sin is only pissing by face towards Qiblah and blasphemy.

    1. Al Avatar
      Al

      readinglord: You are quoting zeena as if people really give a shit about what he/she thinks.

      Whatever the hypocritical culture of Pakistan pointed out, i agree with.

      But FYI there were over 10,000 cartoons of our Prophet (PBUH) submitted on that page & the ones i have seen were really offending – because that was the idea. Some showed our Prophet (PBUH) with a turban in the shape of a bomb & some showed him with bombs & virgins.

      You may not be sensitive to this because you belong to a privileged class that increasingly looks towards the west for its values, but i can assure you the majority of Pakistani's if they saw the cartoons would want facebook banned forever.

      The argument about freedom of speech does not make any sense & is being repeated again & again. Tell me how do you understand freedom of speech? To say, do, show whatever you want?

      Of course you can never stop anyone from thinking or saying what they want to, but you can definitely control the forums available to such people that want to promote values that are in direct conflict with your society. And this control is exercised all over the world.

    2. Hassan Avatar
      Hassan

      Reading Lord,

      You will not find it offensive because you are Qadiani so offcourse the drawing picture of Muhammad (S.A.W.W) would not be offensive to you.

      YES, PAKISTAN has taken a very wise step in the right direction and the credit goes to the juidicary and not the thugs like Zardari, Gilani and Kiyani.

      This ban may not stop 1000s other from drawing the cartoon but it certainly has won the hearts of millions Muslims and may Allah accept this and bring HONOR back to Muslims of Pakistan and all over the world. AMEEEN

  3. Adnan Siddiqi Avatar

    Ppl like ReadingLord and Zeena or whatever will blow up themselves when someone would exercise same freedom of expression against their loved ones;wife,mom and others. try to say anything bad to their closest ones , I am sure readinglord will atleast try to give a punch. Right ReadingLord? Kindly don't give lamest and stupidest reasons to comfort your own fantasies.

    Tell me one thing why this ban giving fits to most of the people?

    DOn't people protest in the world? Iraq war resulted the protest of millions of people. Did not France impose scarf ban while it was a direct threat against freedom to practice religion.

    If majority is agreed with ban then what's wrong in it? I am sure Shias will be pumped up if someone ridicule Ali or Hussain in the name of freedom, same goes with Agha Khanis and other communities.

    Had some Mullah or Taliban ridiculed Hindu' Om or Krishna then all such liberal hypocrites were going to chant against the person or would have asked to impose ban too. Hypocrite world always amaze me

    And refering Chowk, a site which glorifies liberal fascist s like Pervez Hoodbhoy and Nadeem Paracha can hardly be taken seriously.

    1. JKL Avatar
      JKL

      and don't forget to add Switzerland, how they banned Mosque minarets last year

      and there were ONLY 3 mosques in whole Switzerland which had minarets, yet the tolerant and cool Swiss could not stand the minarets

      remember how its was a huge news and everyone was bouncing up and down against Taliban when they had destroyed the bhuddas in Afghanistan, why was the reaction not same when Muslims were Targeted by Switzerland ?

      why the minarets of synagogues and churches were allowed and minarets of mosques disallowed ?

  4. Adnan Siddiqi Avatar

    There is a famous Anti-Shia site called haq char yar

    (kr-hcy.com/ )

    The site has been banned in Pakistan for long time to spread secterian violence. If it's all about freedom of expression then why this site is blocked? Why can't I read it? why there is no "freedom of expression" for this site?

    Why freedom of speech is not absolute?

  5. Adnan Siddiqi Avatar

    Since many of Shia friends have also been opposing the ban, there is a famous anti Shia site "haq char Yar". The site has been banned in Pakistan. I want to know why does not one ask to lift the ban from the site in the name of freedom of expression? Why can't I enjoy the luxury of "Free Internet" to read the stuff on the site?

    Please also redefine hypocrisy here

    1. MB Avatar

      With age, you seem to grow childish and childish. Stop over-simplifying.

      Any website or part of it should be banned which is against any sect, minority, ethnicity etc. If FACEBOOK/YOUTUBE as a whole had any agenda against ISLAM/MUSLIMS your logic would make sense, and its not the case with FB,YT

  6. ali Avatar
    ali

    @readinglord

    I'm against ban of any website (read my earlier posts). The decision to boycott any website rests squarely with the enduser. BUT YOUR SUPPORT TO THE DEPICTION OF THE PROPHET (PBUH) IS CROSSING THE LINES. MAY YOU AND OTHERS LIKE YOU BE CONDEMNED TO DEATH BY HANGING, BEHEADING OR THROUGH LETHAL INJECTION!!!!!

    1. readinglord Avatar
      readinglord

      @ali

      You are lying. Where did I express 'SUPPORT TO THE DEPICTION OF THE PROPHET (PBUH)'?

      I am of the view that the banning of FB, would, while give negative publicity to the blasphemous blog, not possibly stop its depiction on other sites altogether. In fact some proxy sites are able even to open any blocked site. The blockers should have taken lesson from banning of the blasphemous book by Salman Rushdi which became world's best-seller only due to negative publicity it received, otherwise it was a rubbish novel destined straight for the waste dump.

      Btw, who made you the judge to condemn people to death. It is the people like you, in fact, whose very appalling being, spewing poison, is a living blasphemy, tarnishing the image of Islam, the religion of peace, and the prophet called 'Rehmatul-aalimiin' by Allah.

  7. MB Avatar

    @Fatima Ajmal

    Excellent post and excellent thinking. You are the kind of people we need to escape the "self certified thekedarz" of Islam who have hijacked it for their political and power-related gains.

    I cant stop laughing at these retards who are yelling at USA since what the heck USA has to do with FACEBOOK? And why it was "cool" to be in CIA lap in 80z? These JI and JUI retards who are barking at USA for some crap nonsense better apologize for helping an "infidel" in its war for world dominance.

    To cut things short, they can go to hell or mars, FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE is the mind-set of the WESTERN society which is based upon strong foundations of FREEDOM of SPEECH. Just because some "equally retard" non-muslims created a group to make mockery of our faith, is NOT ENOUGH to ban the whole website.

    And if it is, then kindly throw all the books from universities and libraries and schools and obviously "the hate poison" injected by Mullaz in madrasaz against other sects . . . because lately SALMAN RUSHDIE had also written a book. So lets burn all the books in PAKISTAN ?

    Stop crying like a child and posturing like a fool PAK nation.

    Bravo to TM and others for taking a principled stand and bravo to F.A for writing this post.

    1. Adnan Siddiqi Avatar
      Adnan Siddiqi

      Mian Ziyada na Hasna kahin hasta hasta Phanda lag gaya tu logo ko muft me tumhara naam k saath R.I.P likhna par jaye ga 😉

  8. ali Avatar
    ali

    Screw facebook. There's life beyond it.

  9. Adnan Siddiqi Avatar
    Adnan Siddiqi

    MB, once an idiot, always an idiot. YOu sound like Nazir Naji when you say something because you say one thing in one statement and you reject your claim in other

    can you elaborate your "mighty logic" that how a "part of facebook" violated the terms but not "ENTIRE" facebook?

    Dhakkan, have you ever read the terms and conditions of facebook? Facebook even violated its own policies. go and throw up somewhere else. Thankfully KMB is removed and we are saved from verbal diarrhea

    And Do read what Awab is saying, he is advocating about Free Internet. A/C to this theory Alqaeda Might contact Awab to arrange a press conference for their promotional sites.

  10. MB Avatar

    Nazir naji has brains at least, your "tagging" habit is no "cure".

    Logic is not in your dictionary, you are pardoned.

    You have read all the terms and conditions, so you quote. KMB is not my property, it was utilized to best of its objective. Sorry couldnt make it a JI mouth piece, apology for it.

    1. Adnan Siddiqi Avatar
      Adnan Siddiqi

      A person who says Nazir naji has brains can hardly be taken seriously. I can understand your state of mind.

      Yes I have read all terms and conditions.Read following Under section safety clause 7

      You will not post content: hate or violence, threatening, pornographic or contain nudity or gratuitous violence.

      Go and Brush up your knowledge for the topic you want to discuss and Gadhay, I am one of the biggest anti-JI person. I have always condemned Mududi's school of thought. Go and brush up your knowledge about the person you are intend to talk. Till then play outside.

  11. asif arif ali Avatar
    asif arif ali

    loved the time line and the article – best thing i have read on this subject and the only thing to add is that its the lawyers who have made our judicial system look foolish as the ban will not last and there will have to be a climb down and secondly had our government techies not heard of proxy servers?

  12. Nabeel | Create Your Avatar

    To those against the ban, Read This:

    'One Facebook, Two Faces [One is Real Ugly]'

    http://propakistani.pk/2010/05/23/one-facebook-tw

  13. Hakeem Avatar
    Hakeem

    Those who themselves don't respect others can not expect respect from others. See what Islamic Republic of Pakistan does to others;

    Pakistan blasphemy laws used to justify 'murder': EU parliament

    (STRASBOURG, 20 May) – The EU parliament on Thursday called on Pakistan to guarantee minority rights, claiming that its blasphemy laws could be used to murder members of political, racial and religious minorities.

    In a resolution adopted in Strasbourg, the assembled Euro MPs expressed "deep concern" at the Pakistani blasphemy laws, calling for a "thoroughgoing review" of the legislation which is "open to misuse."

    The laws can carry the death sentence and are "often used to justify censorship, criminalisation, persecution and, in certain cases, the murder of members of political, racial and religious minorities," the parliament said in a strongly-worded statement.

    The texts in question "are misused by extremist groups and those wishing to settle personal scores," the EU deputies said.

    They had also "led to an increase of violence against members of religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, but also Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Shiites, Buddhists, Parsis, Bahais and critical citizens who dare to raise their voice against injustice," they added.

    The parliament did recognise recent "measures taken in the interest of religious minorities," by the Pakistan government, such as establishing a quota of five per cent for minorities in the federal jobs sector, recognising non-Muslim public holidays and declaring a National Minorities Day.

    The chamber also welcomed the commitment made by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to grant property rights to minority slum dwellers in Islamabad and the government's undertaking to provide minority seats in the Senate.

    However such initiatives cannot mask the reports and surveys by independent agencies which "reveal that minorities in Pakistan are deprived of basic civil liberties and equal opportunities in jobs, education and political representation," the parliament underlined.

    The resolution also criticised the practice of including religious details on citizens' passports, a practice which the MEPs argued could lead to "discriminatory practices..

    Present in Strasbourg was Pakistan's minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

    He told AFP that his country was "trying to improve the situation and many steps have been taken."

    He said the Pakistani authorities had made a "commitment to amend these laws."

    "These laws will be changed in such a way which could not be harmful. I'm working on that, this will be done by the end of this year," he said.

    Pakistan, founded in 1947 as a Muslim homeland during the bloody partition of British India, is overwhelmingly Muslim. Religious minorities however form some five percent of the population, according to government figures.

    In June last year, blasphemy allegations led to mob violence against Christians in Punjab that caused hundreds to flee, according to the US State Department's annual report on religious freedom around the world.

    The report said there was particular discrimination against the Ahmadiya community, which Pakistan considers non-Muslim as adherents do not believe Mohammed was the last prophet.

    Pakistan on Thursday condemned caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed that appeared on Facebook, blocking the social networking site and YouTube in a growing backlash over Internet "sacrilege."

    Islam strictly prohibits the depiction of any prophet as blasphemous and Muslims across the globe staged angry protests over the publication of satirical cartoons of Mohammed in European newspapers four years ago.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Minor Glimpse of Violation of Blasphemy Law by Pakistanis themselves: GEO TV, Beard & Aamir Liaquat Hussain's Tabbarrah. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2010/04/geo-tv-b

    2. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Another Glimpse: GEO TV violates Blasphemy Law of Islam.

      بے خبری میں آپ کیسے “جی“ رہے ہیں ۔۔ کیا دیکھہ رہے ہیں ۔۔ کس سے لطف اندوز ہو رہے ہیں ۔۔۔ ذرا سوچئیے ؟؟
      http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/11/geo-tv-v

  14. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    Ladies and gentlemen

    Stop worrying about past history and honor of Islam and Prophets.

    Giants and almighty are untouchable and unapproachable to human minds no matter how much human try to probe them and their secrets .On the other hand satanic characters have strong ability to lead the masses who pass their lives on the basis of weak faith and concepts of life.

    Read the straight facts and get the data how we turned Pakistan into jihadistan and mahajaristan.

    http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/jihadistan

  15. Hassan Avatar
    Hassan

    Lets make a dua for the people who put forward this ban

    may Allah honor the judges who took this step, Ameeen

    may Allah forgive our sins and may Allah help all of Pakistan and all the Muslims all over the world, Ameen

    May Allah give hidaya to us and the people who are opposing this ban for one reason or another, Ameen

  16. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    Mughal

    Is it necessary to produce such gem of fire in already confused situation like that?

    At this moment you are looking me fermentor which is all time ready to produce more temperature and wasteful residue in the process of religious fermentation.

    You might know it that fermentation at higher temperatures and selection of wrong vessels may produce adverse effect in wine making process and this time you have picked two for making old wine with some innovation.

    If I would get any power, i would pick you, amir liquat ,nayar ziadi , shahid massod like people in any luxurious dungeon and provide you lot of opportunity to discuss each other all kind of controversial issues and no problem if you are interested to kill each other I would provide you all necessary support for it too ,promise to you people.

    So kindly leave these low IQ people in their low profile mental approach.It is time to cool down the fire of belief or act like silent rain .Dont behave like thunder storm in already destroyed land.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Nazia says: – May 23, 2010 at 10:34 pm Mughal Is it necessary to produce such gem of fire in already confused situation like that?

      ========================

      Yes.

  17. Sanaa Avatar

    While I agree with most of what the writer has said on this article, there's just one point that I do disagree with, and that is comparing the whole issue with derogatory depictions of the holocaust. Now many here have probably been very offended at this reference, and with (although I'm not particularly religious myself)reason that makes sense.

    Just because the world doesn't recognise making fun of one personality as particularly offensive, just because the Jews and the Christians don't care if someone makes fun of their prophets, it does not mean that Muslims should feel the same way. It's true, the holocaust was a horrible atrocity, something that should not be made fun of under any circumstances because it represented a massive loss of the lives of millions of innocent people, not only jews, but also those deemed social pariahs by Hitler. There's nothing funny about it, and there's nothing funny about what goes on in the Gaza Strip. The point I'm trying to make here is that, human life, no matter what religion, race or creed, is not laughing matter when it's stripped away so ruthlessly.

    But you cannot equate that with depictions of the Holy Prophet. For Muslims,it IS a big deal and we expect people (especially neutral authorities like Facebook to respect that). "Why do you expect them to get why we Muslims are so emotional about any depictions of our Prophet when they make fun of their own prophet?"Simply because, it IS as big a deal as some Arab making fun of the holocaust for them when a bunch of intolerant asses make fun of an important religious figure for us.

    That said, really PTA, can we have our internet freedoms back already?

  18. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    Mughal

    Could you elaborate your" yes" statement.

    I think your gem of fire article has instigated Sunni therik and now they are agitating around geo Khi office.

    So prompt response as per your demand.

    Why not you instigate people against lawlessness state and corruption scandals against PPP govt or pick only NRO group under zardari who are making record breaking corruption in all available resources.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Yes because when Pakistani Tolerate Open and Brazen Blasphemy and Tabbarra against Prophets [PBUT] and Companions [May Allah be pleased with all of them] which is practiced by GEO then they shouldn't complain when Kaafir do the same. By the way the Mob is of Sindh National Party not Sunni Tehreek.

  19. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    mughal

    So you are proving that GEO has established this vast network on the basis of false and wrong concepts of journalism.

    Geo or Popular channels never stick to one law, one sect, one relgion and one policy and it changes its mood and trend as per public demand.

    Your conservative way of thinking in this regard reflects that you have less adaptability for changing trends.

    A typical mentality of a govt officer who have always limited options for showing its credibility to public and seniors.

    Human acts are not like carving on stones which cant be altered.Electronic medias are 24/24 hrs are on air and in touch with people more than any other way of communications and they can do mistakes and criminal errors as we all human do in our routine practical lives.

    try to give people some more space and look for optimal solution for moving forward rather than going to nowhere.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Your conservative way of thinking in this regard reflects that you have less adaptability for changing trends.

      ======================

      Changing Trends. Freedom of Expression doesn't mean Freedom of Abuse. I wouldn't support such kind of Freedom of Expression where you are allowed to insult any religion what to talk of Islam [Islam Forbids Muslim from passing insulting comment against any religion]

    2. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Nazia says: – May 24, 2010 at 12:40 am – mughal So you are proving that GEO has established this vast network on the basis of false and wrong concepts of journalism.

      ===========================

      Read the story of Electrical Therapy Shoe of Faiz when every channel after his arrest declaring him A Terrorist, here goes your vast network down the drain.

      Geo or Popular channels never stick to one law, one sect, one relgion and one policy and it changes its mood and trend as per public demand. [Nazia]

      Dear Ms. Nazia, I am one of the member of public and lets assume that a section of public demands the telecast of Porn [presently Private TV Channels are telecasting Dramas which cannot be watched with sisters and mothers] so would it be justified to relay porn?

      Your conservative way of thinking in this regard reflects that you have less adaptability for changing trends. A typical mentality of a govt officer who have always limited options for showing its credibility to public and seniors. [NAZIA]

      Dear Ms. Nazia, First of all I am not conservative [I have told you earlier in detail] please tag a click on my blog Khushwant Singh [extreme Hedonist and very Liberal]i.e. Indian Author/Journalist/ Khushwant Singh and read as to how he honoured Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] despite being a Non Believer.

    3. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Dear Ms. Nazia, First of all I am not conservative [I have told you earlier in detail] please tag a click on my blog Khushwant Singh [extreme Hedonist and very Liberal]i.e. Indian Author/Journalist/ Khushwant Singh and read as to how he honoured Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] despite being a Non Believer.

      Here is the link: Khushwant Singh on Prophet Mohammad [PBUH]
      http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/khushwan

    4. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Nazia says: – May 24, 2010 at 12:40 am mughal So you are proving that GEO has established this vast network on the basis of false and wrong concepts of journalism.

      =========================

      Read as to how a TV Channel [GEO] Brazenly lie: SNP protestors clash with police in Karachi. Geo files a contradicting story Written by Monitering Desk Sunday, 23 May 2010 14:09 http://www.sindhtelegraph.com/index.php/sindh/46-

  20. Hakeem Avatar
    Hakeem

    Nazia, please go back to TPS.

    1. Nazia Avatar
      Nazia

      Oh hakeem shahib

      thanks for your free advice.

      I think you misprint go word which might be "come".

      Any how I am enjoying abusive free environment of TM so no requirement of facing abusive challenges all the time.

      By the way when you met me there, not remembering yet?

      have a good time here.

  21. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    Mughal

    You are not conservative in thoughts for your self and life styles but take very narrow turns while talking about others zig zag moves.

    I have already told you that we are considered as morally weak nation or still in process of character building phase for last 60 years.

    Nations are lead by proper managers and sincere leadership and this is the area which we still lack since the creation of Pakistan.

    We are actually through out led by business men and feudal characters whom all interests focus around personal gains.

    That is why our graph line of freedom of expression sometimes coincide with freedom of abuse .

    This is what our leadership taught us and we followed this legacy.

    If you like prone movies then you have private ventures available and even most liberal countries never run stat channels with such kind of provisions.Even in Saudia like conservative society such movies are available to public through wide spread dish culture but no civilized society can even think of allowing it to minors on state level.

    It is not Islam bu all religion forbids mockery on norms and people of other religion.It is the basic purpose of all religion to improve harmony in anarchical state but these are mischievous human minds who disturbs the normal religious behavior in any environment and our soil is very rich in such attitudes.

    Sorry to say your latest article in which you attacked Geo and try to put its stature under blasphemous law depicts same kind of approach which I mentioned above.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Nazia says: May 24, 2010 at 2:39 pm Mughal Sorry to say your latest article in which you attacked Geo and try to put its stature under blasphemous law depicts same kind of approach which I mentioned above.

      ==============================

      I have also attacked Dawn and Hindu Extremists [try to search that onmy blog]

  22. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    Mughal

    You have talked about wrong publicity of Fiaz and his shoes in Geo but it was aired in all channels.

    it was actually criminal blunder of LEAs who for cheap publicity did this for gaining some scoring points without considering its seriousness that how it could have affect innocent live.

    By the way it was same media group in which Ishtiaq beig had negated all wrong doings of these agencies and provided detail of this mishap.

    These Beig brothers are very influenced business men in UAE ,EU and in north African Muslim countries .Their little effort can restore the status of faiz as before.

    So it is not Geo who publicized beard and hijab culture as symbol of terrorism.You know root cause and exact source of such propaganda and this trend has now traumatized even Paksitani like me that we go to very alert mode while dealing long beard men or lady in black cloak.

  23. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    MUGHAL

    By giving me link of khuswant singh what you are trying to prove?

    That man is popular for his secular thoughts and always preached for harmony.If I am not wrong at the time khalistan movement was on its peak , he was supporting Congress for its secular policy.

    You are forgetting your writings strongly show strong religious beliefs but no doubt your hobbies look very colorful as per your profile which reflects your variation in your acts and saying.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Yes I am very colourful but Extremely Detest Insulting anybody's Religion particularly Islam.

  24. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    Mughal

    you say

    yes I am very colorful but Extremely Detest Insulting anybody's Religion particularly Islam.

    So that is your way of presenting extremism behaviour .

    Following hedonism and passing colorful single life which is prohibited in Islam.

    So in one way you are also picking life of your choice and along with this criticizing those people and groups who also follow this practice.

    Allah has decreed humanity through Prophets and philosophy of prophecy and to His believers of facing hardships and disasters strike again and again in this wordily life.

    The righteous follower used to be pleased when a hardship or adverse living conditions afflicted them, seeing it as a reward of Allah's forgiveness and benevolence.

    You are expert in quoting hadith and I no way can touch your knowledge in this regards so you might read all this before.

    Expiation of Sins

    Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet said: " Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in their body, family, and property, until they meet Allah (S) burdened with no sins.

    Sign of Allah's Love

    Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity" [Bukharee and others]

    Sign of Eeman

    Abu Hurayrah (RA) and Ka'b Bin Maalik (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant; the wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he continues to be subject to affliction. And the parable of a hypocrite is that of a firm cedar tree; it does not shake – until it is uprooted all at once." [Bukharee and Muslim]

    Sign of Righteousness

    The prophets and righteous people are afflicted the most, and their rewards are the highest. Sa'd (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best, then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with his deen (faith). If his deen is firm his affliction is hard, and if his deen is weak, his affliction is light. Indeed, one would be so much subjected to adversity until he walks among the people without any sins. " [Ahmad, Tirmithee]

    So you claim that you are used to of attacking Dawn and geo along with Hindu extremist.

    Sorry to say there is no match or even comparison between geo, dawn and Hindu extremism.

    You can make make a mountain out of molehill it is your God gifted skill not divine's law.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Dear Ms. Nazia,

      No compromise on Blasphemy against Prophets [PBUT] and Insulting comment against any religion. If you call me Extremists so be it.

  25. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    mughal

    So you think weak humans like me and you can guard the Mightiness of Allah and divinity of Prophets by creating blasphemy law and hatred culture for nonbelievers.

    Have you ever seen that strongest can be protected by weakest or child can think of guarding his parent.

    Prophets are celestial beings, inferior to the supreme God, but superior to man so Allah before sending him made natural guard system for them and made an example for existing geenrations that no barrier or cruelty of civilisation can lower down their status.

    This is law of universe but we weak and insecure muslims try our best to interfere in laws of universe and in return curses and disorders become our fate.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Nazia says: – May 24, 2010 at 8:45 pm – mughal – So you think weak humans like me and you can guard the Mightiness of Allah and divinity of Prophets by creating blasphemy law and hatred culture for nonbelievers.

      =========================

      Read my lips. No Compromise on Blasphemy Law and for your kind information Blasphemy Law was the creation of Prophet Mohammad [PBUH]. I am also strictly against the misuse of it by General Public by adopting method of Lynch Mob. It is the State's Responsibility to Enforce the Law and Administer the Punishment after thorough Investigation [as mentioned in Sunnah and Fiqh]. Period.

  26. hassan Avatar
    hassan

    "Why do you expect them to get why we Muslims are so emotional about any depictions of our Prophet when they make fun of their own prophet i.e. Jesus -who by the way, is God for them? There are numerous groups and pages on Facebook that make fun of Jesus/God -Facebook doesn’t delete them either."

    so you mean that since they make fun of their own prophet they have the free pass to make fun of our regardless of how we feel about it?

    who's side are you on anyways?

    remember jesus is also YOUR prophet, not just their

    stop trying to be such a MODERN muslim that you lose touch with what islam is really about

  27. Farukh Avatar
    Farukh

    Please please .. make Ur life easy and simple.. and please stick to Islam in very true and simple meaning …

    Do Love for Allah & Mohammad(S.A.W.W)

    and Do Hate For Allah & Mohammad(S.A.W.W)

    Thats what Allah n His Mohammad(S.A.W.W)

    (apne Dil Ko tatolo..Such kuch mil jaega .. whats freedom of speech and whats vulgar of Speech)

  28. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    Mughal

    Try to read this as per mentioned in Quran

    # "And the servants of Allah … are those who walked on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say 'Peace'!" [Quran 25:63]

    # "And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: 'To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant.'" [Quran 28: 55]

    # "Have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity)." [Quran 73:10]

    # "Tell those who believe, to forgive those who do not look forward to the Days of Allah. It is for Him to recompense (for good or ill) each People according to what they have earned." [Quran 45:14]

    # "Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting." [Quran 50:39]

    Why I read your lips when Allah has logically given us all peaceful ways of handling abnormalities and weakness of human minds.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Dear Ms. Nazia,

      Please provide all of us the background context [Shaan-e-Nazool] of these verses.

    2. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      Nobody is denying Message of Peace from Allah in Quran.

  29. Nazia Avatar
    Nazia

    Mughal

    All these aayts were revealed when the issue of tauheed or oneness of Allah was challenged.

    You can easily get its details.

    So you see when Almighty, the al mateen(forceful one) the Ad darr(the creator of harmful) gives us guidance of peace and harmony then why we humans go for severe reactions for non Muslims and even misguided muslim.

    We, Muslims have very foxy characters we pick what we match as per our nature.

    Through rigid laws of blasphemy we actually try to harass weak groups and nonMuslims.It has such kind of impact on non muslims and latest campaign of anti muslims sentiments are highly instigating by critically projecting such Blasphemous statements.

    1. Aamir Mughal Avatar

      The Law which you called Rigid was not founded by me but by Prophet Mohammad [PBUH], and we are just followers. I agree with you 100% to have a check on the misuse of this law to settle scores.

    2. Mohammad Yusha Avatar

      Since you are talking about Quranic ayats, have you not read Quranic ayats on black magic. Hakeem is correct. You should go back to TPS.

    3. Nazia Avatar
      Nazia

      Mughal

      I have no confusion in my mind that Islam which are in hands of human minds mostly project and implement hard and rigid way of living for weak genders and poor Muslims.

      That is why we are unable to see the real practices of Islam in any Muslim state but these are commonly seen in non muslim areas.

      Muslims are clearly living in double and triple code of Islamic principles where we have divided groups on the basis of status and sects.

  30. Mohammad Yusha Avatar

    Previous comment is for Nazia.

    1. Nazia Avatar
      Nazia

      Yusha

      All negative energies of humans can be dissipated by using the positive energy of human minds.

      I think you have experienced this phenomena in TPS while

      discussing with me on different issues.

      If you are believer of God unlimited power and have faith on your purity of heart than no need to worry about black or red magic.

      Those are curses of our bad deeds, ill wills and wrong intentions which are naturally returned to us and we name our weaknesses as invoking of magic from our foes as coverup.

    2. Mohammad Yusha Avatar

      >Those are curses of our bad deeds…

      So you believe in it.

  31. Solomon2 Avatar

    "OK, Jews were allegedly discriminated against in the first half of 20th century, many were killed brutally… Blah Blah Blah. If all this is true, why can’t we have independent investigation regarding the same?"

    I checked: no Pakistani has done historical research with the Holocaust archives in Germany, Israel, or the United States. If you wish to be the first, please contact the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. link

  32. readinglord Avatar
    readinglord

    5.1

    @Al,in supporting ban on fb, says:

    "Tomorrow are you going to support the right of local television channels to show porn under the garb of ‘freedom of speech’?"

    Excuse me dear you are confusing the issues. Showing openly something on TV and writing something on a personal blog, which you can reach only by search or invitation, are quite different matters. You can see porn as much as you like on many search engines (Say for instance, Google) by searching for it and no one objects to this.

    I may tell you that I myself, my family and my friends frequently visited Facebook but none reported having seen the blasphemous blog before it being blocked, but some school boys are reported having visited it out of curiosity through some proxy site after it had been publicized by banning it.

    1. Al Avatar
      Al

      @readinglord: I think if anyone is confused over here it is you. Facebook is an open forum & not someones personal website. The page was created to invite users from around the world to take part in ridiculing our Prophet (PBUH) not for the personal consumption of whoever created it.

      And because it is a public forum, FB has a written policy through which it uses to control hate speech & pornography.

      Pages on the holocaust are banned using this same logic because they make fun of the suffering of the jews. And in my opinion they should be banned.

      But i think you are unaware of this fact & FB's policy or you chose to ignore this in your attempts not to be ostracized by those you seem to really look up to.

      The difference between the internet & television is only one being a push & the other being a pull medium. However, the logic of controlling the forums applies just as much to facebook as to any television channel. If it didn't than facebook would not have a censorship policy.

      You say that there is no sensitivity involved in the cartoons because you belong to a tiny class that looks towards the west for its values rather than to their own society & religion.

      FYI even some in the west think that the cartoons were offensive & that FB's was following a dual policy. This is from the magazine Economist.

      Here is what was written:

      "The offence was an American cartoonist’s idea for a “Draw Muhammad Day”. Enthusiasts proceeded to draw thousands of images, many of them offensive. Facebook’s policy of prohibiting hate speech was apparently in abeyance: drawings of pigs urinating on the Koran—and worse—were posted."

    2. Solomon2 Avatar

      "Pages on the holocaust are banned using this same logic because they make fun of the suffering of the jews."

      Holocaust denial is illegal in a number of countries, so in some of these Facebook pages containing such material are not accessible. The ban on H-D has NOTHING to do with the Jewish feelings; it has to do with making sure the shadow of Nazi tyranny and murderous race-hatred never rises again.

      An analogy would be if Pakistan banned its citizens from denying the huge massacres committed by the Pakistani Army, crimes that led to the creation of Bangladesh, as a reminder that no matter how "pure" a country thinks itself, that is no license to unjustly trample the rights of others.

    3. Al Avatar
      Al

      @Solomon: "it has to do with making sure the shadow of Nazi tyranny and murderous race-hatred never rises again"

      Agreed. That is what i intended to say. The purpose of the FB policy is not to provide a forum to people spreading hate speech. This hate speech that was tolerated in Europe before the 2nd World War is what led towards the holocaust.

      But the type of language used against the jews at that time is now used against arabs & muslims in Europe. And it has become acceptable in media, in academic circles etc.. If anyone followed the discussions on that FB page, it was full of such nut jobs & hate mongers.

    4. Solomon2 Avatar

      "But the type of language used against the jews at that time is now used against arabs & muslims in Europe."

      Is "Europe" really advertising Muslims as dogs and pigs? I don't think so.

      Jews were the Nazi's scapegoat. Today, however, the West really is under attack by militant, expansionist, Islam. We – not just Jews and Christians, but Muslims too – have to be more watchful of some of the stranger Muslims out there.

      "If anyone followed the discussions on that FB page, it was full of such nut jobs & hate mongers."

      The expression of blasphemy allows its creators to assert that they are free of whatever tyranny they accuse the religion in question of. Yes, that can be offensive to readers. But note that, unlike a radio commercial or billboard, Facebook pages are private and do not intrude on a person unless he or she chooses to access it. So the Facebook ban is an attempt to control freedom of association, not just freedom of expression; ultimately it is an attempt to control the limits of political thought.

    5. Al Avatar
      Al

      @Solomon: Maybe not dogs and pigs in mainstream but they are getting there. The language may be acceptable to you because it does not refer to jews. But the racist undertones are clearly there.

      Chomsky did an experiment with his audience to prove this point. He read a newspaper article to them but replaced the word 'arab' with the word 'jew' only to draw shocked reactions from his audience. When they were told what he had done, they heaved a sigh of relief instead of realizing the prejudices that they have been fed.

      Again i don't know what your definition of private is. If i want to keep something private i am not going to start a FB page about it.

      FB has a written censorship policy. If it was a private affair why would they need to have any such policy.

      You are wrong when you say: "Holocaust denial is illegal in a number of countries, so in some of these Facebook pages containing such material are not accessible."

      The pages are not blocked – they are taken down by facebook itself based on its censorship policy.

      This is what their own policy says: "Targeting people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or disease is a serious violation of our standards……."

      If you believe what you say then why deny people the right to discuss the holocaust? There is a big supposition here that anyone who does not subscribe to the jewish version of events is an anti-semite?

      The fact is that hate speech against muslims has become acceptable in the West.

  33. readinglord Avatar
    readinglord

    Sorry, a correction in my previous post:

    The number of the post commented upon is '54.1' and not '5.1', a typo mistake.