I was blocked by Facebook for 24 hours because I posted Dana Bakdounes photo on the Uprising of Women in the Arab World page. The photo was removed after being heavily reported by misogynists and Islamist extremists.
Congratulations Facebook for helping hate speech win the battle over freedom of expression that you pretend to endorse.
Dear Facebook
If a photo of a woman removing her veil and saying that she wants to feel the air on her hair and body gets removed, you better stop giving yourself credit for the Arab spring.
Facebook you are so over-rated...
Dana's story from Young Feminist Wire:
Like hundreds of young women and men all across the Arab world and beyond, Dana Bakdounis, posted her photo to the online campaign, The Uprising of Women in the Arab World’s Facebook page. Holding her passport and a hand-written message along with a defying stare on her unveiled face, she boldly states: “I’m with the uprising of women in the Arab world because for 20 years I was not allowed to feel wind in my hair and body.” But on the morning of October 26, 2012, Facebook removed Dana’s photo and has blocked the administrator of the Facebook group who posted the photo from posting anything for 24 hours. The picture was taken down by Facebook because the social network had received complaints. The photo was allegedly reported as being “insulting.”
The Administrators of the Facebook page have put together the following statement regarding the incident:
“It is a regrettable matter that we still have to call on some to read before they attack, and to understand what they read before they utter smutty words, angry calls and statements of hatred for which the uprising was created!
This page has presented the pictures of the veiled and face-veiled women equally as the pictures of the unveiled, yet insolence or memory loss takes some to the point of denying this! Some even extend the insulting attack by accusing the page of encouraging the removal of the veil even though many have spoken in their pictures of their pride in their veil.
Yet more hurtful, insolent blatant hatred takes some to the point of accusing us of dwarfing women and their issues with emphasis on removal of the veil, while it was they who attacked pictures of one young woman who had removed the veil, and ignored the pictures of many who spoke of their rights regarding nationality, education, marriage, work, inheritance, maternal leave and protection from sexual abuse, rape, early marriage, battery and circumcision.
It is regrettable to witness these comments continue by some without thinking before they write them. It is also regrettable to witness the obscene insults stated by those claiming strength of belief and morals.
Thank you to all those who uprise with us! And thank you to all those who fight us with maliciousness and hatred for you prove to us each day the necessity of this uprising!
We will persist, we will endure.”
To read more, see photos and reactions to the story, the Young Feminist Wire’s has prepared a Storify story. Read it here: http://storify.com/AWID/dana-bakdounis-and-uprising-of-women-in-the-arab-w
It's getting out of control with these fundies. I made the mistake of accepting a few random friend requests from the crazies whom follow Facebook news sites. Something i've since gone on to regret as i have now had a few bans from photo's in my albums that they do not like. Do they ask me? No they report me. They're not even offensive, usually a picture of a (fully clothed) woman. The last one was a Japanese woman dribbling. 30 day ban now (they all add up).
ReplyDeleteI follow the page mentioned above and there are quite a few butthurt people out there. I couldn't believe when the picture of Dana was removed. I thought my bans were a tad over sensitive but this was extreme. Who the hell is sitting in a cubicle and deciding that a young woman with no headscarf is offensive? no doubt they pass the criteria to join the rising cult of fundamentalist Facebook muslims. More dangerous logged in to facebook than they are with a gun.
this is really sad. sad to see how ignorant muslims have become to their religion. Instead of posting up pics and rising AGAINST wearing a veil one should understand its importance and its position that it holds. Our fight should be for equality in society and we should be asking for getting treated in society and business sectors just like any other non muslim woman. Thats what we should be fighting for, when a veiled woman is refused a job because she covers! Take pride in your veil women, its a blessing!
ReplyDeleteBravo au courage de ces jeunes femmes
ReplyDelete