YouTube has taken down the official web channel of Islamic scholar Dr Israr Ahmed
FOE Link or motive by PPF
ConfirmedCase Update Status
Youtube account is still banned
Summary of Case
"On April 3, 2022 The biggest video sharing website, YouTube, has taken down the official web channel of Islamic scholar Dr Israr Ahmed over allegations of carrying anti-Semitic comments.
However, the followers of the Islamic scholar Dr Israr Ahmed expressed resentment over the initiative and claimed that he was a great scholar of Islam who never preached violence and urged his followers to get education and learn modern technology.
YouTube sprang into action after the weekly newspaper Jewish Chronicle published several reports on Dr Israr Ahmed and claimed that British Pakistani Malik Faisal Akram, who took the Texas Synagogue hostage, was inspired by lectures of Dr Israr Ahmed.
The channel had nearly 3 million subscribers who used to watch lectures by the late Islamic scholar. The channel shows recordings of the late scholar’s old speeches and lectures. Dr Israr’s son used to operate the YouTube channel.
The channel also contains lectures in which the scholar talks about his views about the end of the world in the light of Quranic verses and the Jews’ place in history.
Dr Israr’s disciples have termed the block as a violation of free speech by the west.
Another YouTube scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza has said that the move has unmasked the double standards of the western countries. He said that YouTube acted upon complaints just by Jewish groups, without hearing the other side.
According to the complaints lodged by Jewish groups the videos “preach could trigger violence against Jews in the West by Muslims”.
On April 7, 2022 the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has requested YouTube to review its decision to block DR Israr Ahmed’s channel. The channel was blocked after Jewish groups complained about the content and termed it ‘hateful’ towards Jewish communities."
Category of Incident
Censorship
ICCS Status
ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Group: 08031-Acts against freedom of expression
ICCS Class: N/A
ICCS Crime: Acts against freedom of expression
Reported By
The News
Date of incident
3
Month
April
Year
2022
Name of affected person
Dir..Israr
Other affected persons
No other person affected
Name of affected organization
Youtube account
Other affected organizations
No other organization affected
Action by
Youtube's management
City
Worldwide
Province
Worldwide
Designation
N/A
Professional category
N/A
Age of victim
N/A
Marital Status
N/ACompensation Details
Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced
Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced
Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced
Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced
Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced
Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced
FIR Details
Was FIR registered ?: No
Court Details
Was case investigated ?: No
Court where case was presented: Case not presented in any court
Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case not presented in any court
Date of first court hearing:
Date of last court hearing:
Status of court case: Case not presented in any court
Journalist Union Status
PFUJ
N/A
APNS
CPNE
PBA
Media Source Status
Media reports:
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/947134-youtube-takes-down-dr-israr-s-channel-for-anti-jews-remarksCondemn Status
Colleague of victim
N/A
Employer organization
N/A
Press Club Status
Press club 1: N/A
Press club 2:
Press club 3: