Pakistan bans 'breast,' 'period' from text

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has banned text message senders from using 1,109 English words, including "condom," "period" and "monkey crotch."

The authority sent a letter Nov. 14 to cellphone companies in the country ordering them to start screening text messages for 586 Urdu words and 1,109 English words deemed to be offensive beginning Nov. 21, MSNBC.com reported Friday.

The authority said the move is aimed at controlling spam, which it defines as "the transmission of harmful, fraudulent, misleading, illegal or unsolicited messages in bulk to any person without express permission of the recipient."

Officials said the policy was inspired by complaints from members of the public about offensive text messages.

The words banned under the new rules include "condom," "intercourse," "breast," "flatulence," "hostage" and "monkey crotch."

Also banned were "wuutang," an apparent reference to rap group Wu-Tang Clan, and "Jesus Christ."