Under the title "Controversial Video Game Sparks Debate in Egypt, Al-Azhar Responds," Sky News reported on a broad controversy that has emerged on social media in Egypt in recent hours due to the video game "Fortnite." The game is criticized for including scenes that incite violence and hatred against Muslims, as well as depicting the destruction of the Kaaba.
The Al-Azhar International Center for Electronic Fatwas issued an official statement confirming the prohibition of such games that promote violence and aim to distort religious beliefs. The center noted in its statement on Tuesday that it has previously warned about certain video games that distract the youth from their primary duties of acquiring beneficial knowledge or work, trapping them in virtual worlds away from reality, and fostering violent behaviors, hatred, and self-harm or harm to others.
Furthermore, the statement, which was obtained by Sky News Arabia, highlighted "Fortnite" as one of the games contributing to repeated incidents of hatred, violence, murder, and suicide, alongside its portrayal of the destruction of the sacred Kaaba to gain advantages within the game. This, the statement emphasizes, directly negatively impacts the beliefs of our children, confuses their concepts and identities, and trivializes the significance of their sanctities, including the Kaaba, which is the direction of their prayers, their pilgrimage site, and a source of blessings.
The center reiterated the prohibition of all electronic games that promote violence or contain erroneous ideas intended to distort faith or Sharia, debase religion, encourage secular thought, disrespect sanctities, or promote violence, hatred, terrorism, self-harm, or harm to others.
Dr. Amina Nasir, a professor of Islamic creed and philosophy, expressed that such games incite violence, hatred, and the killing of Muslims, while also aiming to promote terrorism and self-harm crimes. She suggested in her conversation with Sky News Arabia that such games should be banned or that international laws should be established to limit their spread, as they undermine the values of respecting such sanctities in our children and youth, and aim to cause a disruption in their beliefs.
