The white stripe in Pakistan flag is supposed to represent minorities, who have very little stake, now, in the present day Pakistan
By Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor
As of 7th of June, 2013, the Muslim Times has been banned in parts of Pakistan. When the readers try to log in, instead of our content, they read, “The website is not accessible. The site contains content that is prohibited for viewership from within Pakistan.”
The Muslim Times stands for the religious freedom of every human being, for Universal Brotherhood and Sisterhood and for Separation of Mosque-Church and State, in every country of the world. Pakistan Government did not say for which of these aspirations, they have chosen to ban us.
At any rate, we in the Muslim Times, take it as a compliment in disguise. Pakistan has moved us from the stage of ‘ignore,’ to ‘ridicule.’ Mahatma Gandhi, the great sage from India, once remarked, about political oppressors:
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.
Many of the other news sites, like CNN, Yahoo and the Huffington Post, every so often, indulge in frivolous and obscene and the Muslim Times never does that. Notwithstanding our principled publication history, Pakistan Government has singled out the Muslim Times, for the honor of being banned.
In some ways they have gone against their own policies as documented in Wikipedia:
In April 2003 the PTCL announced that it would be stepping up monitoring of pornographic websites. “Anti-Islamic” and “blasphemous” sites were also monitored.[4] In early March 2004, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) ordered Internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor access to all pornographic content.
We, in the Muslim Times, pray to Almighty Allah that let this trial imposed on us, by the myopic Pakistan Government, be a source of more and better readers. May His decree enable our readers outside Pakistan to share our worth while content with their friends and family, in Pakistan, through email, phone and other means.
Suggested Reading
What is the Muslim Times doing for You?
Freedom of Speech: A Core Islamic Value!
Categories: Free speach, Free Speech, Freedom, Pakistan
To find proxy servers to bypass this ban, please see the comments in the original posting of this article.
Allah puts His servants to trial and tribulation because He wants to test you.It shows that Muslim Time is popular and powerful influence.I like Obama for his powerful speeches.His multicultural education and ethnicity and religious backgrounds. He said somewhere that if a prophet come in this age,he would be called a bipolar or a schizophrenic.One student asked from our psysiatric professor in 4th year KMC. ,how one would be able to tell.He said read y meaning of Quran.Quran says a liar prophet is cut from the throat and is humiliated.From his appearance he did not look religious but descent.I felt so happy for the Promised Messiah a s But the so called religious owbers said:the kho Mara lawanay they. He is also insane. His name was Doctor Shafique.His ward and staff were ridiculed.It was considered to be a stigma.
“…we in the Muslim Times, take it as a compliment in disguise” – To that I say, “As well you should!”
I, as a daily reader of the MT and a not infrequent commenter upon articles within, praise the MT for its ceaseless work towards tolerence and understanding in this ever increasing intolerent world. I salute all those involved in that endeavor.
To those Americans I know or encounter who have made anti-Muslim comments or possess that same attitude, I always tell them, “I have this website I know of I’d like for you to read” i.e The Muslim Times. I sincerely hope that it changes their views and, somehow, brings a little more understanding into their lives.
No surprise at all. This is the land where terrorist & murderer Qadri is rewarded by garland of roses from the lawyer community; and where the Mr. Qadir, who sold Pakistani Nuclear secrets to other countries is a hero. This is a country where Hazrat Suleiman (as) would have served jail time for writing “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” on his letterhead.
Zia,
Why are comments disallowed on the Muhammad article? If you really believe him to have been what you claim for him, comments should be welcomed to bring out the truth.
When a decision is taken to stifle views, for and against, do you have any justification to feel aggrieved about what Pakistan has done?
European Convention of Human Rights
I think many of the exceptions for freedom of speech are tackled in the Article 10 of European Convention of Human Rights.
This Article provides the right to freedom of expression, subject to certain restrictions that are “in accordance with law” and “necessary in a democratic society”. This right includes the freedom to hold opinions, and to receive and impart information and ideas, but allows restrictions for:
We would certainly need the best legal minds humanity can offer to give concrete and legalistic details of the above exceptions that may be acceptable to people of all faiths, ethnicities and nationalities.
If the Supreme Court Justices do not come to our rescue, may be a good and an accomplished writer can help out with a best selling book. But, the key is to at least, win the moderates, in all the established religions of the world and among the agnostics and atheists.
namelee, you are clearly supporting the wrongs. You want to spread wrong words against the prophet Muhammad. You have no real support for that from the real meanings of the Quran. Still you are insisting that you need to do that.
I believe you had been given opportunity and you availed that for long time. That is, you played your bad part for a long time. I do not remember what faith you hold or you have any faith at all.
If you are a Christian then I will say that you want an unjustified way about the leaders of faith i.e. making one humble man as god and attacking another good man, presenting him as a cruel person.
That is not a good principle from you.
Whatever, you please keep on following what ideas you have. There is nothing wrong with TMTimes.