Pakistan blocks Wikipedia over anti-Islam content

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said it is in talks with Wikipedia officials and the ban could be lifted if the platform completely removes anti-Islam content

Under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or its figures can be sentenced to death

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Pakistan has blocked access to Wikipedia in the country due to the website’s refusal to remove allegedly blasphemous content. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 4:19pm, 6 Feb 2023

Pakistan’s media regulator said on Monday it blocked Wikipedia services in the country for hurting Muslim sentiment by not removing purportedly blasphemous content from the site, a move critics say is a blow to digital rights.

Under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or its figures can be sentenced to death, although the country has yet to carry out such a sentence.

But even allegations of the offence are often enough to provoke mob violence and even deadly attacks. International and domestic rights groups say that accusations of blasphemy have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and settle personal scores.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority says it blocked Wikipedia because a 48-hour deadline to remove the content was ignored, according to a spokeswoman. “Such things hurt the sentiments of Muslims,” said Malahat Obaid, from the regulator.

She said Pakistani authorities are in talks with Wikipedia officials and the ban could be lifted if the platform completely removes anti-Islam content.