Facebook row as Middle East officials ban user who insulted Islam

By Andrew Hough 1200PM GMT nineteen March 2010

The Facebook user claimed they were an non-believer and believed in no God but him/herself, it was claimed. Photo GULF NEWS

All internet providers in the United Arab Emirates have been systematic to retard the unnamed user at the back of the site, after he purported his claims were upheld by verses of the Koran.

His actions sparked a call a protest, with majority job on users to critique the amicable networking site unless the site was removed.

Google China pullout "imminent" Facebook snubs supervision final for be scared symbol Google Street perspective in new row Facebook has "no objection" to anti-paedophile symbol Facebook millions feel "too unattractive" for amicable networking site Digg redesign "will not intermix appeal"

After dozens of complaints about the Arabic-language site, patrician "God and Prophets", the countrys Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) voiced this week it would anathema the user from holding an internet account.

But that preference was met with some-more critique from what a little noticed as censorship of the internet.

The user claimed they were an non-believer and believed in no God but him/herself, reports in the Middle East claimed.

They pronounced that Muslim prophets would be means to bond with users by the site, that contained Koranic verses and additionally appeared to ridicule Islam, as well as responding their questions.

The site shortly had some-more than 600,000 followers, with majority vicious of the site.

Mohammad Al Ganem, the authoritys General Manager, shielded the authoritys preference to anathema the site, observant it "insulted" Islam.

"TRA perceived countless calls and complaints from internet users expressing their annoy opposite unclear people who combined a site on Facebook that is offending to God, prophets, messengers, the Holy Koran and even to all God"s books," he told Gulf News.

"The author of this site that he spoken God and Prophets" Site", attributes eternal life to himself and spreads twisted essay sanctimonious they are verses from the Koran.

"He additionally spoken essay a new book equivocating himself as a god."

He combined "He spreads speak that is scornful to the prophets and to their holy stature.

"This is deliberate to be a transgression according to the sovereign law."

He warned web users to be discreet about what they combined or viewed.

"[The] internet is as well immeasurable to be tranquil daily. There are reprobate racists everywhere who do not recognize or honour religions or values," he said.

"They purposely widespread what destroys the country"s black and values, and we should not gangling any bid to fight them fiercely."

Olivier Bassile, arch senior manager of Reporters Without Borders, pronounced censorship of the element was the wrong plan by Facebook.

"Its associated to leisure of expression," he told The Media Line headlines agency.

"It was usually judicious that one day Facebook and alternative amicable media would face this vigour since the normal media is already pang from this pressure."

"On the internet, you find far some-more cases of critique of religion, but this is the cost you compensate for the leisure of the internet.

He combined "You have to accept the majority unwashed tools of the internet if you wish the pleasing piece of the internet and have entrance to anything you want.

"On the internet you wish to foster the general point of view, this is piece of the debate."

A Facebook orator was taken for comment.