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Tragic Incident Involving TikTok Quarrel Sparks Calls for Social Media Crackdown

In a devastating event that took place on December 29, 2023, in Kariala village, located in Punjab’s Gujrat district, Pakistan, 18-year-old Maria Afzal fatally shot her younger sister, Saba Afzal, during an argument over a TikTok video they were filming together.

This heart-wrenching tragedy has provoked conservative Deobandi clerics to launch a campaign seeking the ban of TikTok in Pakistan. These clerics view the popular social media platform as a symbol of the broader challenges associated with social media. TikTok, with approximately 40 million downloads annually in Pakistan, has become an easier target due to previous incidents involving the display of explicit content, which caused significant controversy throughout the country.

Responding to these concerns, senior Deobandi clerics issued a fatwa at the end of December, formally declaring the use of TikTok as “illegal and haram” for Muslims.

Authorities in Pakistan have taken heed of these calls, as they remain apprehensive about potential religious unrest. In 2021, TikTok was banned for a period of five months, only to be reinstated after the platform promised stricter measures against explicit content. However, in 2023, a petition was filed with the High Court of Lahore seeking a complete ban on TikTok.

Notably, these same conservative voices have also criticized the influence of platforms such as Facebook and X, expressing concerns shared worldwide about the potential misuse of social media. While these concerns do hold some merit, it is important to recognize that social media platforms can also serve as vital channels for persecuted minorities in Pakistan to voice their grievances and protest against harassment and discrimination.

For instance, social media plays a crucial role in reporting cases where religious minority girls have been abducted to be forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men. While each of these cases must be cautiously verified, it is worth acknowledging that some instances are brought to light solely through social media platforms.

However, there remains a fear that, amidst the accusations of immorality, posts denouncing the persecution of Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadis, and other minorities may also fall victim to the censorship advocated by Sunni Islamic radicals. If a total ban on major social media platforms were to occur, it would only serve to silence Pakistani minorities, depriving them of one of the few avenues they have left to make their voices heard.

With the complex challenges surrounding social media serving as a backdrop, it is essential to navigate a balanced path forward. While addressing legitimate concerns regarding explicit and harmful content, it is crucial to preserve the space for Pakistani minorities to raise awareness about their struggles and seek justice.

Source: https://bitterwinter.org