Facebook Ban Lifted, For Now (Pakistan)

The ban on Facebook in Pakistan has been lifted, at least for the time being, by the Lahore High Court. Officials in Pakistan banned Facebook after a Facebook group called “Everyone Draw Mohammad Day” caused an international uproar. (See a previous Indyposted post for the backstory.)

Facebook reportedly apologized to Pakistan and promised groups or material that some Muslims find “blasphemous” would no longer appear on the popular website. The ban will be restored if any objectionable material comes back to Facebook, Justice Ejaz Chahudhry of the Lahore High Court said, according to Al Jazeera.

What do you think about this situation? Has respect for religion and for believers been upheld? Or has one group of people enforced their personal beliefs, their perception of reality, on everyone else and succeeded in crushing free speech?

Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights says people have the right to freedom of thought.

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance,”

says The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.