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    Pakistan bans 'obscene' words on cell phone texts

    ISLAMABAD (AP) — Texters in Pakistan better start watching their language.

    Pakistan's telecommunications authority sent a letter ordering cell phone companies to block text messages containing what it perceives to be obscenities, Anjum Nida Rahman, a spokeswoman for Telenor Pakistan, said Friday.

    It also sent a list of more than 1,500 English and Urdu words that were to be blocked.

    The order was part of the regulator's attempt to block spam messages, said Rahman. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority refused to comment on the initiative.

    Many of the words to be blocked were sexually explicit terms or swear words, according to a copy of the list obtained by The Associated Press.

    It also included relatively mild terms like fart and idiot.

    The reasons for blocking some words, including Jesus Christ, headlights and tampon, were less clear, raising questions about religious freedom and practicality. Any word could conceivably be part of a spam message.

    The letter, which was also obtained by the AP, was dated Nov. 14 and gave cell phone companies seven days to implement the order.

    Rahman, the Telenor spokeswoman, said her company first received the letter Thursday and was discussing how to proceed.

    "It's a big issue, so it is being examined carefully from all points of view," said Rahman.

    The letter said the order was legal under a 1996 law preventing people from sending information through the telecommunications system that is "false, fabricated, indecent or obscene."

    It also stated that free speech can be restricted "in the interest of the glory of Islam."

    Under pressure from Islamists, Pakistan has blocked pornographic websites and ones deemed anti-Islamic. Last year, it temporarily banned Facebook because of material on the site deemed offensive to Islam.

     
    • Rob  •  Kalamazoo, United States  •  5 mths ago
      Since Pakistan is far from being a Democracy..

      Should we really care what their "Absolute ZERO freedom of speech" allows or does not?

      How about Obama sends a few thousand troops over to Pakistan and we go to war with them because of not being able to text about how some girl wasn't able to text about the need for a tampon?
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Canton, United States  •  5 mths ago
      Just exercising govts. ability to inhibit freedom of speech, were headed their shortly I bet...
    • Keila  •  6 mths ago
      tampon? really?
      • Arktim 6 mths ago
        Oh that nasty invention of Satan, makes girls lose their virginity!
      • beautiful oak 6 mths ago
        Who would text that anyhow? It would say "pon".
      • BoDiddy 6 mths ago
        yes, really... just shamefully sad
    • Sam  •  New York, United States  •  6 mths ago
      SMS: Honey, can you go to the store and pick up some $@)$!3? I ran out.

      Some what?

      I need a box of $@)$!3!

      What????

      #(^$%) $(%*&!!! I need $@)$!3!!!

      Sigh
    • CAT MAN  •  Jacksonville, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Jesus Christ I was driving my car and farted and I forgot to turn my my headlights on and I accidently ran over a tampon.
      Man I'm glad I am an American!
      • Robert 6 mths ago
        Thats freekin funny
      • The RiverMaster 6 mths ago
        ROTFLMAO dude, was that a used tampon? lol
      • ANON 6 mths ago
        F'in BRILLIANT!
    • Oliver Clothesoff  •  6 mths ago
      "The order was part of the regulator's attempt to block spam messages" Ya right. More like opression and Shiara law.
      • Peace 6 mths ago
        you are an american idiot!! read again the news!!
      • Michael 6 mths ago
        ...& you are a #$%$ loving mooslem zombie piece of camel excretement.
      • G. 6 mths ago
        PEACE ~ Is in NORWAY ~ The land of peace luvin white muslims who can kill 77 kids in a country when guns are banned.......???
    • New Fan  •  6 mths ago
      Islamist's get more interesting by the minute. It's bad to see boobs on the internet but it's fine to use the cell phone to detonate a bomb at a crowded market.
    • Tom  •  6 mths ago
      The phrase 'kill all Christian infidels' was not censored, interesting.
    • geezer  •  Houston, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Laughable. As reported, Bin Laden's home was full of porn. In Pakistan.
    • Promethium  •  6 mths ago
      Pakistan, a country that has consistently denied their citizens basic rights (like freedom of speech... hence, relevance to this article) and sheltered terrorist organizations and leaders (like bin Laden) for years. Remind me again why we're even tentatively allied with them...
    • Kevin  •  Maumee, United States  •  6 mths ago
      do they have a veil to put over the phone when women send picture mail?
    • Bill  •  Dallas, United States  •  6 mths ago
      I guess words like "Taliban and Al Queda" are OK?
    • William 'D-Fens' ...  •  6 mths ago
      Pakiston should ban decapitations instead of obscene text messages. Bunch of aholes
    • Sarafina  •  Phoenix, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Do they say "ah shucks" when their exploding vests only kill a few?
    • z  •  Redmond, United States  •  6 mths ago
      obscene word banned by pakistan but to kill children, woman and civilians are allowed. NICE.
    • Pertnear  •  Houston, United States  •  6 mths ago
      What? "Free speech can be restricted "in the interest of the glory of Islam."" - say it ain't so!! When did this start happening? Oh yeah, that's right, about 2500 years ago.
    • Valerian  •  Dallas, United States  •  6 mths ago
      More Islamic freedoms from the religion of peace
    • Dennis  •  Grand Rapids, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Censorship is censorship no mater what reason you give. Just another way to keep the real truth from the people.
    • Shawn  •  Jackson, United States  •  6 mths ago
      If this every happens in the U.S. you can kiss freedom of speech goodbye.
    • A  •  5 mths ago
      What about when the chickens come running in the house,and jumps on the woman and the woman hollers out, "Hey John Boy Come come get this Big #$%$ off me"!!!! As Billy's pulling out....
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