[APCPress] BREAKING NEWS: Once Again Social Networking Websites Face Ban in Pakistan

[Karen Higgs]

EMBARGO 19-05-2011 00 00 GMT



BREAKING NEWS: ONCE AGAIN SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES FACE BAN IN PAKISTAN

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY, MAY 19 2011 (APC) -- The Chief Justice of the 
Lahore High Court has just ruled in favour of a petition to ban several 
social networking websites including Facebook Yahoo, MSN and Wikipedia. 
The ruling released on May 13 found that Facebook and other websites 
were in violation of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, and should be banned in 
Pakistan.

The Lahore High Court judgment in favour of the petition number 
10392/2010 suggests that, given that several other countries --Saudi 
Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and China-- have blocked these 
websites,  the Pakistani government should not consider the move 
unprecedented and “can solicit the necessary help from the said 
countries with regard to legislation in that regard” (Paragraph 12).

This ruling comes as the anniversary of the first Draw Mohammed Day 
looms on May 20. Last year, Pakistan enacted a total ban on Facebook, 
YouTube and several other websites for almost two weeks in response to 
the provocative Facebook group "Let's Draw Mohammed". Official documents 
by the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority reveal that about 12 000 
websites were blocked during this time.

During the previous ban, APC circulated a statement condemning the ban 
as unnecessary, unjust and ultimately counterproductive.

“The blanket ban of an entire platform like Facebook is a blatant 
violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms. These platforms are 
an important medium for social and political organising and information 
sharing. Just as States should not ban a public library, neither should 
entire platforms simply be shut down. Such moves are against 
international human rights law and the principles outlined in APC's 
Internet Rights Charter,” says Joy Liddicoat who leads the APC Internet 
Rights are Human Rights campaign and is a former Human Rights 
Commissioner for New Zealand.

While APC’s Internet Rights Campaign is closely monitoring the events in 
Pakistan, it calls for the Lahore High Court to uphold Article 19-A of 
the Pakistani Constitution and to remove the government-imposed block on 
the free flow of information and communication.  After all, an open 
internet is critical for defending essential human and democratic rights.

For more information: Karen Higgs khiggs at apc.org

Judgement and a summary can be found on: http://www.apc.org/en/node/12359



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