Mark Zuckerberg Faces Death Sentence in Pakistan

[DANNY WOOL, SV411]

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg probably won’t be visiting Pakistan soon. That country’s Deputy Attorney General is investigating his role in the recent Draw Muhammad contest that was hosted on the website, claiming that it violates Section 295-C of the Pakistani Penal Code, which states, “Use of derogatory remark etc, in respect of the Holy Prophet, whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable for fine.” The investigation also encompasses Facebook’s cofounders Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes and a German woman who instigated the Draw Muhammad Day event.

The Pakistani petitioner, Attorney Muhammad Azhar Sidiqque, said that he is waiting for the police to contact Interpol so that Zuckerberg and his artist coconspirators can be arrested and extradited. Meanwhile the Pakistani Deputy Attorney General says that the country’s representative in the United Nations will be raising the issue before the General Assembly.

In 2008, Pakistan amended its legal code to include “cyber-terrorism” as a capital offense. According to the new law, “Whoever commits the offence of cyber terrorism and causes death of any person shall be punishable with death or imprisonment for life.” While this was intended against al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who attempted to steal state secrets pertaining to weapons of mass destruction, it is unclear whether it also encompasses hosting supposedly blasphemous stick drawings on your website. Similarly, it is uncertain whether the Pakistani courts will attempt to charge Trey Parker and Matt Stone with a similar offense, or whether they will leave it up to the Church of Scientology to go after them.

Facebook has declined to comment so far.

Read More at The Register.

Read More at Reuters.