By Stewart Tongue
YNOT – A new Facebook-like social network designed to offer Islamic surfers a “clean” place to hang out expects to launch in November. According to its designers, Salamworld.com will allow Muslims to connect without encountering material that resides outside the bounds of halal, or what is permissible under strict Islamic law.
The potential market for the new network is predicted to be as many as 240 million people worldwide, the most devout of whom are accustomed to employing less-than-robust platforms in order to keep up with family and friends while avoiding impure content.
Salamworld’s developers have vowed the network’s software will filter all “indecent” subject matter including nudity and other adult material.
Indonesia is a prime target for Salamworld. The country remains the world’s most populous Muslim nation; its citizens comprise the second largest Facebook market in the world and the third largest market for Twitter. Conflicts between Islamic law and the uncensored nature of existing online social networks have been constant thorns in the side of companies seeking to expand their platforms in Indonesia.
Salamworld chairman Abdul-Vakhed Niyazov described the new site as a “cleaner version of Facebook” and promised the social network will allow users to connect directly with unrestricted Facebook and Twitter accounts.
“By filtering out harmful content and ensuring that its pages uphold and respect family values, Salamworld can be described as ‘Halal Facebook,’ the new social networking phenomenon,” Niyazov said.
A beta version of Salamworld is undergoing testing by thousands of users worldwide. At public launch, the network reportedly will be available in eight languages including English, Arabic, Turkish, Urdu and Russian.
