Muslims react angrily to 'Draw Muhammad' page on Facebook

by Stevie Smith - May 19 2010, 16:12

If the deadly Danish cartoon debacle taught us anything, it’s that certain Muslims are really rather serious when it comes to not tolerating the creation of blasphemous images bearing the likeness of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

More pointedly, and while currently falling short of violent outbreaks and the issuing of death threats, Facebook this week finds itself blocked in Pakistan after an ill-conceived “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day!” page was posted to the hugely popular social network.

According to an AP report, the page in question arrived on Facebook as part of a protest against a radical Muslim group that reacted angrily after Muhammad appeared in a bear suit during a recent episode of the oft-controversial animated comedy show South Park.

In defending the “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day!” competition page, its creators insist their actions were not meant “to slander the average Muslim,” but rather to show extremists that react to depictions of Muhammad with threats of violence “that we’re not afraid of them [and] that they can’t take away our right to freedom of speech by trying to scare us into silence.” 

That justification clearly hasn’t swayed the opinion of angry Muslims in Pakistan, who have used public protests to pressure the government into officially blocking the offending Facebook page.

While the page itself was blocked on Tuesday, today has seen the government take further action by enforcing a court order that prevents ISP access to the whole of Facebook until at least May 31.

A Danish newspaper cartoon of Muhammad sparked violent protests in several Muslim countries back in 2005, which ultimately led to clashes with police and the deaths of 50 people – five of which were in Pakistan.

Facebook has not yet issued an official comment regarding the Everybody Draw Muhammad Day! competition page.

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