Gaming to "Wipe Out Muslim Race"

The game, created by a US-born programmer, features a US soldier sent to "wipe out the Muslim race"

  
A computer game featuring an American hero sent to "wipe out the Muslim race" is sparking outrage among British Muslims.

"Encouraging children and young people in a game to kill Muslims is unacceptable, tasteless and deeply offensive," Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, said in a statement on the group's website.

The "Muslim Massacre" game features players controlling an American Hero, armed with a machine gun and a rocket launcher, parachuted into the Middle East.

"The United States of America has declared war on Islam! Take control of the American hero and wipe out the Muslim race with an arsenal of the world's most destructive weapons," reads the game's website.

Users progress through levels, first killing Muslims who appear on screen and later taking on Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) and finally Allah.

"If it was the other way around, with a game featuring Muslims killing Israelis or Americans, there would be uproar and rightly so," said Shafiq.

First released in January, the game has recently become popular after being linked to by several prominent blogs.

Its creator, a US-born programmer Eric Vaughn, aka Sigvatr, describes it as "fun and funny".

Glorifying Violence

Britain's leading Muslim youth organization said the game is inciting violence and racial hatred.

"There is an increase in violence in this country and some of it comes from video games," said Shafiq.

"When kids spend six hours a day on violent games they are more likely to go outside and commit violence."

The Ramadhan Foundation called on authorities and internet service providers to act against such games.

"We have written to the British Government to urge an inquiry into this game and take action to shut down the site," said Shafiq.

"We urge ISP providers to take action to remove this site from their services as it incites violence towards Muslims and is trying to justify the killing of innocent Muslims," he added.

"This game is glorifying the killing of Muslims in the Middle East….This is not satire but a deliberate attempt to demonize Muslims.

"If it was the other way around, with a game featuring Muslims killing Israelis or Americans, there would be uproar and rightly so.
 
( IOL Staff )