Facebook Caves to Pressure, Removes “Draw Mohammed Day” Group UPDATE

UPDATE: Facebook has put the group back online. The page was removed from Facebook on Thursday afternoon (during the middle of “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day”) and put back up this morning (5/22). See our post here for a complete update.

LOS ANGELES (YBH) – In another alarming sign of the power of Muslims to censor free speech in Western society, Facebook has removed the group “Draw Mohammed Day” from its website.

The “Draw Mohammed Day” controversy started early this spring when Comedy Central censored the television show “South Park” for attempting to portray an image of the prophet Mohammad. Muslims believe it a crime to depict Mohammad in any way. After threats of violence, Comedy Central immediately scuttled the image from the show.

Facebook: "Jesus as Dog" allowed, "Draw Mohammed" group banned.

Shortly thereafter, a cartoonist in Seattle attempted to make light of the situation and started a mock “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” movement. The cartoonist, Molly Norris, was protesting against Comedy Central and Revolution Muslim, a New York group that stated that the creators of “South Park” would end up dead like Theo Van Gogh. Mr. Van Gogh was murdered in Amsterdam by a Muslim for making a short film that critiqued the religion’s treatment of women.

Ms. Norris, not being a politico, was mortified when “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” became a real movement on Facebook and other places. The “Draw Mohammed” Facebook group garnered over 100,000 members. Until today, that is.

It seems Facebook has now backed down, much like Comedy Central did. Implied threats of violence by Muslims and a boycott in Pakistan were perhaps enough for Facebook to abandon the principles of free speech. Pakistan briefly banned Facebook from internet users in the country over the draw Mohammad group.

Generally, Facebook has no problem with divisive groups as long as they follow Facebook guidelines.

For instance, the “We Hate Jesus” Facebook page that was started by Indonesian Muslims in reaction to the “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” page is still active on the site. The “We Hate Jesus” page contains many sexual references to Jesus Christ and other Christian figures. The picture above of Jesus as a dog is from the group’s homepage.

Apparently, ‘hating Jesus’ comports with Facebook’s usability guidelines. Criticizing Islam doesn’t seem to.

NOTE: Some of the racier comments on the “We Hate Jesus” page have been removed. The page itself is alive and flourishing.

John Romano is the publisher and editor of Yes, But However!, a musician, a former political correspondent for BBC Radio London, and a serial web entrepreneur. Follow him on twitter: twitter.com/yesbuthowever or John Romano on Google+

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Post Published: 21 May 2010
Found in section: News and Analysis

April
both groups are disgusting. people who are not religious don't have it shoved in their face, why shove your non-religious hatred on those who are religious? Hiding behind the guise of free speech is a ballsy move on both parts but it's only about HATE. One look through the comments show a far more personal attack and I am glad the first group was taken down, let's hope the we hate jesus group is as well.
It's not about being politically correct it's about having respect for other people and their beliefs. Then when the other side gets angered and threatens with violence there is surprise? I don't get it, isn't that the reaction you wanted? Human nature nowadays appalls me…

Jimmy Islam
Muslims kill those they disagree with, Christians do not. Do you not see the difference April?

Timmy Islam
You make it sound like all Muslims go around killing in the name of their faith, and that Christans never have.
TIMMY!

Jimmy Islam
9-11, Madrid, London, Indonesia, and India are just samples of what Muslims do to disagree with opponents. In each case the perps. filmed a video claiming allegiance to "Allah".
Give me the Christian equivalent. If you say Timlothy McVeigh, which you will, please prove he did the bombing in the name of Jesus Christ.
Muslims love violence, why can't you accept that?

waseef
That page is still their ..

Dan
Ok but respect is not a guarantee of free speech. Free speech means anyone can be as disrespectful as they please. It serves the purpose of forcing everyone to see what hatred is and make the decision to accept or reject it. However, simply removing everything out of fear if Islamic terrorism only serves to bolster the claim that Islam itself is a religion of hate and oppression.
http://intensedebate.com/profiles/schmalan schmalan
As said by Liam Fox:
Draw Muhammad Day is not an assault on Islam or Muslims, and certainly not on Arab people of any nation. The protest is not racist or ethnocentric. The protest is not an attempt to infringe on the rights of others or curtail any individual’s religious freedom. The protest is in defense of individual freedom of expression. The protest is against one group forcing its religious doctrine on everyone, and censoring other’s rights of free speech and expression.
Shame on facebook and comedy central.
This is not over. Not by a long shot. 107000 people witnessed facebooks cowardly stance against the death threats from a small group of people.

Free Speech
Shame on comedy central
FB was hacked but they are up and running…EBDM..

Jay
Was the facebook group critical of Islam or was it being critical of the behavior of Muslims (albeit individuals) and the acceptance of the violence these individuals would resort to in the face of criticism. I don't believe in fighting fire with fire but critical, even derogatory speech, shouldn't be equivocated with violence. The latter is much more offensive IMO and no one should just accept the fact that some individuals will get violent when provoked.
Mickel
Taking it down will result in a plethora of such groups… now the members have two enemies… the Islamic idiots… and facebook itself… I'm sure they considered it strategically… they knew removing it would cause a mushroom effect… and thats 'WHY' they removed it so quickly…and why they gave no reason… by next friday there will be 100 such groups!
M.Nyamathullah
It is said that when the bells rang to declare American independence, a person strutted along the road, swinging his arms fully.Son one behind him caught his hand.He turned round and said:"i am a freeman in a free country!"The other said, "But,Sir, your freedom ends where my nose begins!"So also every civilized person must know that freedom of expression is not a blank check but is circumscribed by
considerations of security and civility.
Just because a few wrong headed Muslims threaten cartoonist and others for blasphemous matters, the religion could not be faulted!They are impelled by the lowest level of "soul" that incites them.Their religion enjoins person who are angry to do the ablution and escape from the grip of Satan! They are called upon to be guided by the higher level soul, called "conscience or criticizing soul.Which stops them from evil and lets them to do the good!If they are thorough with their religious teachings, the highest level of soul, called "the contented soul"would lead them to reply evil with good.That is, strive hard with Quranic teachings and convince the opponent also to do good and avoid evil.Thus, contribute his mite in making the planet of earth worthy of living and dreaming!
John Baker
I was already having doubts about Facebook over their user data distribution policy but the arbitrary censoring of the Everybody Draw Mohammed Day was for me the final straw. I am inviting everyone to the Everyone Abandon Facebook Day.
http://bakerjd99.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/everybo…
EgonSpangler
I was shocked they removed Everybody Draw Muhammad Day from Facebook. I've created a video, a "community response" to the censorship of South Park that started this entire debate, which you can view here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWlLXLVmC3Y
Fakhra
If Christians allow "we hate jesus" group then it is not muslims fault because that shows your love for Jesus. All muslims love all prophets like Jesus, Moses, Abrham…….and Muhammad (PBUH). SO that group "we hate jesus" cant be created by a pious muslim. but there is no doubt that christians can even go against jesus and the fact that Mary was a virgin.
Shoaib
Islam teaches world peace and freedom and if anyone either a Muslim or a non muslim created such a page then they should ask for forgiveness from Allah the Allmighty and apologise form the Christians and the Muslims coz both of these religions believe in Jesus (may Allah be pleased with him) as a divine Prophet. Allah knows the best. peace.
NaJam Fazal
Look people, I am a Muslim. Its the matter of dos-and-wants of certain people and don't just let yourself carry with it if you don't want to. I am bound by the islamic laws, and its my religion, my choice. If anyone in the world does not like this religion, i don't mind and we will carry ourselves ahead. Similarly, if someone does not like prophet Muhammad(PBUH) it is his choice, his will, his believe and i dont have anything to do with that. The best possible thing i can do is to tell me him the knowledge about islam and let him decide what to choose for himself. I will never fight with him that he do bad things about my religion and thats what Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) teached us. He(Muhammad PBUH) was abused, hated and restricted in his society in his life as well, but he never pushed anybody or kill anybody for not believing him or Islam. Look, i dont know who and with what intentions he made this group, but i know its not what i want to do so i will go to their page, dislikes it, and leave a message "Read and study about Islam its the most beautiful religion and read about Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) who has the most ideal personality". Thats it !
I also believe that those muslims who are giving death threats to anybody, they are wrong too. They should read Islam more, and don't create any fight.
In our world there are various religions and from which i think Islam is the best. No book so true like Holy Quran and no one has the ideal personality like Prophet Muhammad(PBUH).
May Allah guide us the right path.
Ameen.
Phoebe R.
I witnessed the posting of drawings yesterday, and it was awsome how many people were contributing material. There were many which were disgusting, some very thought-provoking, and many which were very funny!. I think there should have been someone to moderate the site (not exactly censorship) because the site can be viewed by minors. HOWEVER, the sheer number of violent responses, indicate that there is a war going on. People fear the barbarity and oppresion of the radical members of Islam and it is obvious that this group will never assimilate with a "free" society. I am watching with alarm as more and more people bow to this backwards sect. Where are the Americans who will stand for principle and truly free speech? As a woman in America, I will never give in to these guys- I hope I have some company when they come for us.
IdrewMohammadToo
This event was rough around the edges so to speak, but the intent behind it was sincere. Always stand up to the bullies on the playground. They need to be ‘taught’ how to behave by the rest of us.
Sometimes you have to respond in a manner that the other side can take notice of regardless of how banal and crude other people think it may have been. They took notice that people were standing up to their tyrannical antisocial expectations put upon the rest of us by them.
The first page received up to 100,000 supporters prior to being removed, the 2nd page was up to 14,500 supporters before it was also removed.
The ‘protest’ was a huge success, no one had acid splashed into their faces, no one had their hands cut off with swords, and no one was bombed by a homicide bomber.
We [atheists, Pagans, Xians, Hindus, & Buddhists] all exercised our right to freedom of expression in the face of “Hate Speech Mongers” who masquerade as a “Religion of Peace”.
So what if it may not have been done as some would have wished it to have been. It was done. That is what was important.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1656795343 Aimo Zar
well, one day u will die, then u will remember ur these rubbish words

waseef
Guyz … THAT PAGE ISNT DELETED … This 1 is really a Fake Newz … The page is still There…

http://www.yesbuthowever.com JohnRomano
waseef, below is the update we posted:
UPDATE: Facebook has put the group back online. The page was removed from Facebook on Thursday afternoon (during the middle of "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day") and put back up this morning (5/22). See our post here for a complete update.
If you look at the page itself you will see that the comments from the group and its users dry up Thursday afternoon and pick up again this morning. Thanks for the tip, but note that YBH! never does "Fake Newz".
Regards,
John Romano
Founder, Yes, But, However!

Merry
I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to do it. -Voltaire Sometimes free speech means we must suffer fools.
Zara
HOW CAN DEY INTRODUCE DIS KINDA PAGE….DAT WE HATE JESUS…HELLOO PPL..how can u guys hate jesus….jesus is ISA ALAIHISALAM …messenger ofAllah….dis christians..think he is d son of Allah..n worship him as GOD…..who did dat..hpw cn dey do dis….better b quite if dey don hav knowlwdge abt ISLAM….AsTAGHFIRULLAH..SHEH ITS TOO MCUH…muslims ki bhi akhein band hai…dey doono who is jesus ( A.S )
Nourin Tabassum Roza
no guys….this is not good….if they does these things that doesn't mean that we will also do these kind of things…..Allah is there to punish them …after death they will suffer because they did bad things n if u also do these kind of things that means that u r bad too…..so plz don't do anything like that…:)
http://Undersk8ter_zayn@hotmail.Com Amin
Allah hu akhbar. Ashhaduala ila haillallah. Wa'ashadu'anna Muhammada rasullullah. Illah ha illallah.

Facebook Caves to Pressure, Removes “Draw Mohammed Day” Group UPDATE

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