Pakistan wants Facebook, Twitter to help it combat blasphemy

Under Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws, anyone found to have insulted Islam or the Prophet Muhammad can be sentenced to death.

Pakistan said on Thursday that it has asked Facebook and Twitter to help it identify Pakistanis suspected of blasphemy so that it can prosecute them or pursue their extradition.

In this file photo taken on Thursday, January 12, 2017, activists from Pakistan's civil society demand recovery of the missing persons, in Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law which demands death to anyone accused of insulting Islam or its prophet has been a rallying cry for extremist groups who threaten violence at any attempt to prevent abuses, never mind repeal it. (AP Photo)

Under Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws, anyone found to have insulted Islam or the Prophet Muhammad can be sentenced to death.

Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said an official in Pakistan’s Washington embassy has approached the two social media companies in an effort to identify Pakistanis, either within the country or abroad, who recently shared material deemed offensive to Islam.

He said Pakistani authorities have identified 11 people for questioning over alleged blasphemy and would seek the extradition of anyone living abroad.

Facebook said it reviews all government requests carefully, “with the goal of protecting the privacy and rights of our users.”

“We disclose information about accounts solely in accordance with our terms of service and applicable law. A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or other formal request may be required for international requests, and we include these in our Government Requests Report,” which is publicized each year, it said in a statement.

Twitter declined to comment.