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The game features an American hero
on a mission to "wipe out the Muslim race."
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CAIRO — 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.