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December 19, 2006
Muslim groups ask Wal-Mart to drop game
glorifying religious violence
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 19, 2006 - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council have called on 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.
(Read also: '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, Dec. 12, 2006) 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."
The Muslim American Public Affairs Council has joined a national campaign to ask Wal-Mart to stop selling a video game that it says glorifies religious violence.
MPAC said the game, "Left Behind: Eternal Forces," promotes Muslim intolerance.
"We don't want any more hatred to be spread around," said Waleed Elhentaty, president of the MPAC in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The organization said it contacted 17 Triangle Wal-Mart stores asking them to stop selling the game. It is also urging the public to contact Wal-Mart with the same request.
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