MZ, call your office: Facebook’s Zuckerberg may face criminal charges in Pakistan

The International Herald Tribune reported Saturday that Attorney Muhammad Azhar Siddique is petitioning the Lahore High Court of Pakistan to re-open a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Facebook executives in May. The report was sealed and investigations ended after Facebook removed the “Draw Mohammad Day” group that ignited controversy within the global Muslim community and led some religious leaders to call for its removal. If the court decides to re-open the FIR, this would effectively re-initiate a criminal investigation of Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, along with co-founders Chris Hughes and Dustin Moskovitz. Siddique filed his petition citing Section 295-C of Pakistan’s penal code, which prohibits “blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad,” an offense punishable by death in some cases. He has also called for the court to bring the case to the UN, reasoning that Zuckerberg and company have violated Article 20.2 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that “[a]ny advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.” The court has yet to respond to Siddique’s petition. If it should choose to do so, it will bring the case to Interpol, the world’s largest international police organization. If Interpol were to accept the case, its representatives would then attempt to negotiate a warrant for Zuckerberg’s arrest with federal police authorities in the US.

Photo mosaic of Mark Zuckerberg created by Charis Tsevis. Based on a photo by Marcio José Sánchez of Associated Press.