WASHINGTON, May 14 (IslamOnline) - Adding a new twist to the Pokemon controversy, a senior Iraqi minister accused the United States as being behind the anti-Pokemon campaign in the Middle East.
Iraqi Minister Fahd Salemal-Shaqra told Iraqi television that he believes that the real motive behind the campaign was to divert attention from the Palestinian Intifada and damage the Japanese export industry.
"It's a commercial war being orchestrated by Washington to cut the profits of the Japanese company," he said. He said the real undeclared purpose was also to "preoccupy Arab public opinion with futile subjects rather than support for the Intifada."
He claimed that Iraqi scientists have carried out tests on Pokemon products which show that it does not in any way incite violence or carry symbols which are offensive to anyone."
"I am not defending Pokemon, but I regret that fatwas [Muslim religious edicts] against this game, especially in Saudi Arabia, outnumber fatwas banning links with the Zionist entity," he said.
Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, was the first to declare a ban on March 25th against Pokemon alleging that it promotes gambling and contains Zionist symbols.
Soon thereafter, top muftis (Islamic religious scholars) from Qatar and Egypt, including Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, followed suit issuing and endorsing similar fatwas banning the children's game.
The Saudi commerce ministry last month established special teams to confiscate and destroy Pokemon products including trading cards, comic books, films and toys.
