“Jesus Christ” is on the list of offensive words that people are trying to ban in Pakistan, in what is only the latest attempt to persecute and limit religious freedom. Writing that name in a normal text message via cell phone, according to this project by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, is an offense; it will be considered a swear word and it will be a crime to use it. The project has been shelved for the moment, after strong protests followed its announcement. More than the protests by the Church and Human Rights Organizations, the protest by the telephone companies seems to have been the most effective.
Ilsussidiario.net contacted Pakistani journalist Xavier Patras William about the situation. “Actually”, William says, “The list was given to the PTA by some Muslim groups which asked them to ban it on the internet, but, since internet as a whole cannot be banned, they went to the high court, saying that the ban should be enforced on Facebook and in messages. When the group heard that the high court agreed, and had issued a directive on the subject, they compiled the list”. What words are included? “Common swear-words and sexual words, but also the name of Jesus Christ”.
The idea was a simple, effective and deadly form of persecution. William continues, “Many organizations have condemned this and the Church has condemned it. Life for All will be filing an appeal against the directive at the high court”.
At the moment it seems that the initiative has been stopped. “Most of the telephone companies refused to adhere to the ban, especially because of the word Jesus Christ being included. We received instructions to ban fifteen thousand words from our database, but most of the other companies have not done it. This list is condemned not only by the Christian community but also by the leaders of the company because Jesus Christ is a holy word for Christians and non-Christians, commonly used in Scripture, and the directors of the companies share the sentiments of the Christian community”.
It remains to be seen whether or not this measure will be enacted and yet another limit on religious freedom and condemnation of Christianity will be put into place in Pakistan.
http://www.ilsussidiario.net/News/English-Spoken-Here/From-the-World/2011/11/25/PAKISTAN-Jesus-Christ-banned-as-an-offensive-word/224554/
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