Open Letter to Mr. Javed Chaudhry on his recent article "Facebook”
Dear Javed Chaudhary Sahib,
Assalam O Alikum,
Hope you are doing well and are in the best of health and happiness.
Being an avid and passionate reader of your articles, I feel obliged to write this mail to invite your kind attention to a matter of utmost importance which has disappointed a lot of your fans. You have always been very detailed and well-researched in your posts in general, however being human we all can mistake and I am sure such a genuine mistake took part from your good-self. Equally I have the faith that you will rectify the mistake by writing on the other side of the picture and the missed facts as below.
Your recent column on Facebook focused on a few points while missing some very vital and important information. Unfortunately it showcased a wrong picture of the matters to your reader who like me have total faith in what you write. However as I said before I am 100% sure it is just a human error.
Below are the major points from the column as well as some facts related to them which show the entire picture:
1. There should have been strong protests in that FB’s (Facebook) administration should have been contacted to tell them of the feelings of their users.
There were strong protests so much so that literally chains were made and HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people emailed and called Facebook’s administration showing their displeasure and mentioning that this was a violation of their OWN guidelines.
But the response was …………………………. NO RESPONSE. Yes, total Ignorance.
There were no replies to emails and as soon as people would refer to the issue the calls were hanged up. I know this as I was personally involved in the campaign and hundreds of students in Lahore and London alone will vouch for this.
2. Facebook is a platform which provide everyone an equal opportunity to express themselves and it is just some sick people spreading hatred.
Having spent considerable time in Western Europe I used to believe the same until I got fully involved in the matter and the truth started to come out, which unfortunately was very ugly and full of bias and hatred towards Muslims.
While FB’s administration defended their actions and showed their SUPPORT for the attacks on and ridicule of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, Allah and Islam in their statements to BBC and Fox news citing “Freedom of Expression”, there was clear hypocrisy and double standards to say the least.
In sharp contrast to the above they were quick to not only remove any content praising Hitler or questioning Holocaust (NOT EVEN ATTACKING ANY FAITH) but even the accounts of such users were immediately TERMINATED.
Please have a look at the link below for detailed proof:
http://www.propakistani.pk/2010/05/23/one-facebook-two-faces-one-is-real-ugly/
Furthermore, please spare a few minutes to read the blog below with the detailed links and matter in this regard:http://omerzaheermeer.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/time-to-recall/
After reading the above it would be crystal clear that unfortunately Mark Zukerberg’s Facebook is following a clearly biased anti-Muslim policy. It might be worth mentioning here that the Harvard dropout Zukerberg was renowned for his unequivocal support of Israel and Zionism besides attempted Hackings and fraud with his seniors (recently documented in the Hollywood movie and widely available online.
For details please visit:
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3
3. We should have developed an alternate and promote it as a mean of genuine and practical protest and teach FB a lesson in corporate ethics.
Let me begin with Congratulating you that indeed this was done and it was Pakistani Muslim youth who took the initiative. Millat Facebook (MFB) was launched within 2-3 Days and was recognised globally as a potent threat to Facebook around 29th May 2010.
- Despite several hacking attempts and three times taking down the site, MFB has become the LARGEST Social network by any Muslim country
- With OVER 400,000 Members and is constantly growing. In terms of recognition it has reached the level that Facebook took 7 Years to reach and
- Which is no ordinary feat by any means.
Unfortunately like all other walks of life, the attitude of the majority of those in powerful positions in the country ignored or downplayed when the world media was hailing it as a big achievement and something very positive coming out from Pakistan.
Please read the following selection from the world media to see for yourself:
New Statesman: “Pakistan’s Millat facebook becoming popular” (Over 333,000 Users)
http://www.newstatesman.com/digital/2010/06/muslims-pakistan-welcome-site
NDtV: “‘Halal’ version of Facebook is a hit in Pakistan” (Over 333,000 Members)
http://www.ndtv.com/news/world/halal-version-of-facebook-is-a-hit-in-pakistan-31612.php
Ratio Netherlands Worlwide: “Pakistan launches Facebook for the faithful”
http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/pakistan-launches-facebook-faithful
Yahoo: Halal Facebook a Hit ……..
http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100614/1243/ttc-halal-facebook-a-hit-in-pak_1.html
As of now MFB (Millat facebook) has ALL the features that facebook offers and additional that NO other social network offers like LIVE TV, Recipes, Bulletins, Public Chat, Shout Boxes, e.t.c
4. Sir Syed’s way should be followed where he wrote a rebuttal to a blasphemous book by a British Official.
Totally agree with you here. And the way as you describe was to refute and bring a successful competitor with consistent efforts over a long period of time which resulted in the eventual success of the truth.
The interview below with the Executive Editor of Hindustan Times Mr. Gautam Chikermane covers extensively the issues surrounding the matter and would be enlightening. Please do read the interview below:
Hindustan Times: “Islam has a branding problem: Millatfacebook CEO”
Should you require any more information, please feel free to contact. And should you be able to spare some time, a team from MFB would be happy to provide you more detailed information and proofs on the matter.
In the end, I’d close this mail with the confidence that an honest and competent person of your calibre would certainly take time to read the above and write on the topic to spread the awareness and tell the big following about MFB which is a practical step of agitation and a good step forward just like you would have advocated.
I look forward to your next column/program on the issue.
Kind Regards,
Omer Zaheer Meer
ACCA (UK), BSc (Hons) (UK), CAT (UK), Adv. Financial Diploma (UK), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (UK) & Certified CSM (LCCI & SMEDA – PAK) Professional Associations: PRIMA (USA), ACCA (UK), PRMIA (USA), UKSIP (UK), CFAI (USA), LCCI (PAK) & MPDD (PAK)