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Capcom removes phrase to appease Islamic defamation group

by: Chuck -
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Just a quick FYI to all developers out there, don't include the phrase "Allahu akbar" in your games as it really torks off people of the faith and they will go after you to remove the phrase.  Apparently the phrase made it into a clip of the game Zach & Wiki that was released online and immediately drew protests from the Islamic community.  I'm not sure why the phrase which translates to "God is most Great" is so offensive but it's something that developers are going to have to keep in mind when they develop games.

You have to wonder if the same community asked for the phrase to be removed from the Jihad game or any of the other middle eastern games or if this is something specific to game developed by people outside the faith.

ISLAMIC PHRASE REMOVED FROM VIDEO GAME

 

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/1/07) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that a common Islamic religious phrase will be removed from a new video game produced by Capcom, a leading developer and publisher of video games worldwide.

 

CAIR contacted Capcom after receiving a complaint about the use of the phrase "Allahu akbar" ("God is most Great") in Capcom's "Zack & Wiki" game. The Arabic phrase is one of the most frequently repeated religious statements made by Muslims and is used often in daily Islamic prayers.

 

SEE: Zack & Wiki

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziV03wLGDnY

SEEL ALSO: Capcom Showcases Zack & Wiki

http://press.capcom.com/release.asp?i=37

 

In an e-mail to CAIR, a Capcom spokesperson wrote: "We have already contacted the team working on the game, and the phrase has been removed from the game and will not be heard in future videos released to the public."

 

The spokesperson added that the company had received other complaints about the inclusion of the phrase in the game.

 

"We appreciated Capcom's willingness to address Muslim concerns and applaud the company's swift and appropriate actions," said CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin.

 

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 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.