Pakistan orders YouTube shutdown over ‘blasphemous’ anti-Islam film
Pakistan’s prime minister has ordered YouTube’s suspension in the country over the “blasphemous” anti-Islam film as the country has become gripped by violent protests in response to the video.
So far, Google has been refusing calls from the White House to review “The Innocence of Muslims” and ban it altogether. Instead, the US-based company, which own YouTube, has been responding to requests from individual countries.
“We’ve restricted access to it in countries where it is illegal such as India and Indonesia, as well as in Libya and Egypt, given the very sensitive situations in these two countries,” the company said. “This approach is entirely consistent with principles we first laid out in 2007.”
Pakistan blocked access to the inflammatory video, which depicts Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, as a child molester back on Thursday, the day after the US Ambassador to Libya was killed in an anti-film protest. This measure now appears to have been insufficient to restrict the access to the clip.
Monday, Pakistanis across the country were still venting their anger at the US and the film. Two people were killed in clashes with police as hundreds-strong rallies marched through towns and cities burning US flags, portraits of President Barack Obama and at times buildings they were passing. Over 40 people have been arrested.
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