Letter: Porn ban and Ramadan

This is a comment on a news report titled “All porn sites will be blocked before Ramadan: Tifatul,” (July 23).

Banning porn websites for the reason of “not to affect Muslims from executing their religious obligation” is not acceptable. Does that mean all  restaurants and street vendors (kaki lima) will be banned completely during Ramadan, or at least during the day, so as not to distract those who are fasting?

A few people might think the above comparison sounds extreme; however my point of the Ramadan is meant to teach Muslims patience, modesty and spirituality and importantly enhance to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

It is then clearly comprehended, the protection should ideally come from those who are committed to the Ramadan ritual without affecting people’s activities out of respect for those people. Because respect will only be formed if people from varied backgrounds can mutually live in society with no such interventions to their freedoms.

I cannot see the necessity of this “shallow” initiative coming from the “communications and information technology” minister, who acts more like an Islamic interests minister. In the end, it is hard to find a commonality and a clear line when religious practices are brought to the fore at a level where a group, country or society’s interests are involved rather than forming your own destiny and communication with whose you believe as your god or spiritual influence.

Noval
Melbourne