CAIR Asks Wal-Mart to
Drop Game Glorifying Religious Violence
Washington, DC: The Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has asked Wal-Mart
to stop selling a video game that glorifies religious violence
and may harm interfaith relations.
CAIR says it has received complaints about the game "Left
Behind: Eternal Forces," produced by Left Behind Games
Inc. The game reportedly rewards players for either converting
or killing people of other faiths.
SEE: 'Convert or Die' Game Divides Christians
In a letter to Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott Jr., CAIR Executive
Director Nihad Awad wrote in part:
"We believe the message this game is promoting is one
of religious intolerance. The game's enemy team includes
people with Muslim-sounding names. When asked about the
Arab and Muslim-sounding names, Left Behind Games' President
Jeffrey Frichner said, 'Muslims are not believers in Jesus
Christ' -- and therefore cannot be on the side of Jesus
in the game. (San Francisco Chronicle, 12/12/06) As you
may know, Muslims do in fact revere Jesus as one of God's
prophets.
"In the post 9-11 climate, when improving interfaith
relations should be a priority for all, this type of product
only serves to dehumanize others and increase interfaith
hostility and mistrust.
"Each year, CAIR issues an annual report on the status
of American Muslim civil rights outlining hundreds of incidents
involving anti-Muslim discrimination, harassment, and hate
crimes. It is our experience that many of these incidents
result from Islamophobic rhetoric and negative images of
Muslims in popular culture. . .
"We have no desire to stifle creativity or inhibit
freedom of speech. However, it is our duty as America's
leading Islamic civil rights group to promote mutual understanding
and ensure the safety of Americans of all faiths.
"We also believe that as a company that prides itself
in hiring and offering services to a diverse group of people,
it is Wal-Mart's corporate social responsibility to take
into account the potential social impact of its decision
to sell this harmful game. We, therefore, respectfully request
the removal of the video game 'Left Behind: Eternal Forces'
from your shelves."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has
32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission
is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue,
protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build
coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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