Internet Censorship in Islam

As I pointed out here the fears within Islam of Muslims learning the truth about their religion and how their leaders define it are real, thus their increasingly shrill demands for control and censorship of the internet.  Saudi Arabia is but one Islamic regime which sees the free exchange of ideas a direct threat to it's power.  They are correct, and we must do everything to keep that flow of information going, and growing.

In the meantime, we will see stories such as this one, where Islam tries to stifle dissent through censorship.

We are not immune from this digital supression, as the 'net is interconnected in ways most of us do not understand, thus our vulnerability through ignorance.


From India express.com Jan 13

Pak to block websites, SMS 'propagating anti-Islam agenda'

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik today directed the authorities to block websites and SMS "propagating an anti-Islam agenda" within 24 hours.



Malik ordered the Interior Secretary to trace all websites that are "propagating against Islam". Cases should be registered against persons who are involved in such acts and are residing in Pakistan, he said.



The minister also asked the Secretary to constitute a committee comprising representatives of the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and Federal Investigation Agency to tackle anti-Islam propaganda.

Remember, the definition of "anti-Islam propaganda" is so broad that it enables the authorities to arrest anyone on virtually anything deemed "un-Islamic".  As we have seen, that could be anything from being raped to wearing a pair of pants in public.

He also called on people to inform authorities about websites that are "propagating against Islam and Pakistan".


Read it all