Bangladesh Follows Pakistan In Temporary Ban On Facebook

BBC News reports today that Bangladesh has become the second country to block its residents' access to Facebook because of Facebook pages that carry drawings of the prophet Muhammad. Pakistan blocked access, at least temporarily, last week. (See prior posting.) A spokesman for the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission says the postings "hurt the religious sentiments" of Muslims. Facebook pages also carried offensive drawings of various Bangladeshi national leaders. Access will be reopened once the offensive pages are removed. Meanwhile in Pakistan, according to The News today, a suit was filed in the Lahore High Court seeking a total ban on access to Facebook and an order that no blasphemous material be displayed or broadcast in Pakistan.