Islamic 'Facebook' launches in response to 'Draw Muhammad Day'

by Stevie Smith - Jun 10 2010, 12:37

Arriving hot on the heels of Pakistan’s recent decision to block Facebook, a fresh wave of controversy is likely to flair up online after a Pakistani man incensed by the ‘Let’s Draw Muhammad Day’ debacle decided to launch a new Islamic social network.

Said network is called ‘Millatfacebook’ and was created by 25-year-old Omer Zaheer Meer after repeated requests sent to Facebook asking for the removal of the ‘Draw Muhammad’ page apparently went unanswered by the world’s most popular social service.

The burgeoning network, which has already attracted thousands of curious members, looks not unlike Facebook from an aesthetic point of view and allows its users to post wall messages, play casual games, share personal photos, and watch music videos.

Speaking with the HinduStan Times, Millatfacebook’s creator said the site had been designed “to provide a platform for decent people of different faiths to come in harmony,” adding that all users “are welcome to come and interact with one another and understand Muslims.”

Millatfacebook’s apparent neutrality aside, the New York Daily News reports that clear anti-West propaganda is already popping up across the network – citing one user that called for all Muslims to get together in order to “remove Bloody Israel from the map of the World!”

Similarly, another poster urges Millatfacebook members “to unite and defeat the “Zionist-owned Facebook,” and various user-posted video clips openly praise Allah and the might of Pakistan’s military forces.

The Tech Herald has approached Facebook for an official response on the appearance of Millatfacebook. We will update this story accordingly when and if the network responds. 

Meanwhile, we wouldn’t be surprised to at least see Facebook launch a legal challenge against Millatfacebook and Omer Zaheer Meer regarding the site’s clear use of ‘Facebook’ in its name.

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