AOL and Censorship.
Adnan balboa19@idt.net
Thu, 25 Jun 1998 22:27:39 +0000 (00898831659, 3.0.5.32.19980625222739.007cbc70@idt.net)
I was disturbed to see AOL remove the following page, because Muslims
protested against it.
http://memebers.aol.com/suralikeit
The owner was only writing verses similar to the Qur'an in response to
Muslim apologists who claim that poetry in the Qur'an is so beautiful that
no human can write a sura like it. In fact, the Qur'an itself challenges
anyone to write poetry similar to the Qur'an:
"And if you are in doubt as to which We have revealed to Our servant,
then produce a sura like it, and call on your helper, besides Allah, if
you are truthful." Sura 2:23
The owner of the above site, who is an Arab Christian, accepted the
challenge and posted poetry similar to the Qur'an on his AOL web page.
Muslims reacted hysterically. Hundreds of letters were mailed to AOL
demanding that AOL should close down the site. Here is an example I found
on the usenet:
...... begin quote ......
Please join me in this action campaign to make AOL stop this site. Go to
the following page in AOL, http://www.aol.com/info/feedback.html chose A
comment on member's page, then enter the following message and send:
"The Site: http://members.aol.com/suralikeit/ which is hosted by your
company, contains and on purpose material that is so hurting for every
Muslim in the world (not less than one billion of humans all over the
world, including the States). This site introduces some fake verses of
the Holy Quran, which contain very rude words against Islam, The
Prophet, and all what Muslims believe in.
As a Muslim, I think if this site continued to appear on your server,
you will be contributing in the same aggressive action. I will forward
this message to the press and ask every Muslim to boycott AOL if this
site continues to exist."
..... end quote ....
It was upsetting to see AOL remove the page under pressure. They should
have respected free speech. Is there anything we can do to protest this?
But hey, I found the following by someone who already has taken some action.
http://byrden.com/suralikeit/
What else can be done?