A Pakistani court has ordered the government to block the social networking website Facebook temporarily because of a page that encourages users to submit images of Islam's Prophet Mohammed.

The Facebook group Everybody Draw Mohammed Day! has generated criticism in Pakistan because many Muslims consider images of the prophet, even favourable ones, to be blasphemous.

It encourages users to submit images of the prophet on May 20 to protest against threats made by a radical Muslim group against the creators of South Park for depicting Mohammed in a bear suit during an episode earlier this year.

Naveed Inayat Malik, the deputy attorney general of Punjab province, said the Lahore High Court ordered the government to ban Facebook until May 31.

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