Facebook clone takes advantage of blasphemy scandal

Fri Jul 9 2010, 15:42 PM

A social networking website mimicking Facebook has launched in Pakistan following an outcry over Facebook members posting material deemed offensive to Islam. Pakistani courts temporarily banned Facebook in May and the site's membership has since fallen by 300,000. BuddyFlick appears to be an almost exact replica of Facebook, but the site does not feature drawings of the Prophet Muhammad that caused a backlash from some Muslim users and the Pakistani government. 

"BuddyFlick.com officially launched in response to Facebook's shameful act," says founder Yousaf Fayyaz. "Being a Muslim, I cannot tolerate such an act, which is against our religion and against our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad."

Pakistan also blocked YouTube earlier this year over similar charges of offending Muslims. Though both sites have been reinstated after taking action over the offending material, the Pakistani government says it will monitor sites including Yahoo!, YouTube and Amazon for offending content.