Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia created and edited by volunteers around the world
Islamabad:
Pakistan has blocked Wikipedia after the website refused to remove objectionable or blasphemous content, according to a media report on Saturday.
Wikipedia was blacklisted a few days after the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) disrupted Wikipedia’s services for 48 hours, blocking it unless content deemed ‘blasphemous’ is removed, The News newspaper reported. Threatened to do so.
When a PTA spokesperson was contacted late Friday night and inquired about the blocking of Wikipedia, the official confirmed that “yes” it had been blocked.
On the directions of the High Court, the PTA blocked and slowed down access to the encyclopedia-website for 48 hours as it contained blasphemous material.
Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia created and edited by volunteers around the world and hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation.
A PTA spokesperson said that Wikipedia was contacted to block/remove the said content by issuing a notice.
was also given an opportunity of being heard; However, the platform neither complied with the removal of the blasphemous content nor appeared before the authority.
In view of the willful failure on the part of the platform to comply with the directions of the PTA, Wikipedia’s services were downgraded with a direction to block/remove the reported content for 48 hours.
The spokesperson said that if the reported illegal content is blocked/removed, the restoration of Wikipedia’s services will be reconsidered.
Social media giants Facebook and YouTube have been blocked in the past over blasphemous content.
Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan.
featured video of the day
“Zero Tolerance”: Over 1,800 Arrested Across Assam Over Child Marriage