Wikipedia blocked in Pakistan over 'blasphemous content'
The logo of the Wikipedia site (illustration image).
AFP - KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The participatory online encyclopedia Wikipedia has been blocked in Pakistan because of "
blasphemous content
", the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) announced on Saturday February 4, while the issue of blasphemy is particularly sensitive in this Muslim country.
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“
This page cannot be displayed.
The error message appears when trying to access Wikipedia in Pakistan.
The site has been blocked since Friday.
Pakistani authorities are demanding the removal of content they deem blasphemous, but no details were given on the article in question, reports our regional correspondent,
Sonia Ghezali
.
Wikipedia was blocked "
after failing to respond to our repeated request to remove profane content and failing to meet the deadline
" for removal, a spokesperson for the Authority told Malahat Obaid. Pakistan Telecommunications (PTA).
The PTA, which announced on Wednesday that it had given Wikipedia until Friday to remove the content in question.
"
They removed some of the content (at issue) but not all of it
," the spokesperson added.
Wikipedia "
will remain blocked until all contentious content is removed
", he said.
very sensitive issue
The issue of blasphemy is very sensitive in Pakistan where anyone found guilty of insulting the Prophet Muhammad risks the death penalty.
The law also provides for a minimum of ten years' imprisonment for insulting the Prophet's companions, wives and family members.
A law often used in a false way to condemn innocent people or to silence any dissent, denounce the defenders of human rights.
Pakistan has repeatedly blocked various websites over the past years.
In a statement, the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, said the blockage "
prevents the world's fifth most populous nation from accessing the largest free repository of knowledge
".
"
If this continues, it will also deprive the world of access to knowledge, history and culture of Pakistan
," the statement said.
Content deemed “
indecent
” and “
immoral
”
In the past, some pages of the encyclopedia had already been censored in Pakistan.
Social media giants Facebook in 2010 and YouTube between 2012 and 2016 have also been blocked for the same reason.
More recently, video-sharing platform TikTok was repeatedly blocked from broadcasting in the country for content deemed "
indecent
" and "
immoral
".
(
And with
AFP)
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