Controversial map removed from video game after Muslims protest
A video recorded in-game, uploaded on September 27 shows a picture with a quote, attributed to Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), saying ‘Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty’ in Arabic, according to a translation by Islam Today. The quote is inscribed on a picture frame and can only be read once players zoom into it through scoped weapons available in the game. The frame is hung over a toilet in the map.
Activision has removed the map from rotation, saying that the map would be made available once the offending textures are removed from the map.
An Activision representative provided IGN with the following statement:
“We apologise to anyone who found this image offensive. Please be assured we were unaware of this issue and that there was no intent to offend. We are working as quickly as possible to remove this image and any other similar ones we may find from our various game libraries. We are urgently working to release a Title Update to remove the texture from Modern Warfare 3. We are also working to remove the texture from Modern Warfare 2 through a separate Title Update. Until the TU is ready, we have removed the Favela multiplayer map from online rotation. Activision and our development studios are respectful of diverse cultures and religious beliefs, and sensitive to concerns raised by its loyal game players. We thank our fans for bringing this to our attention.”
A specific date for Modern Warfare’s Title Updates has not been revealed yet.
This isn’t the first time religious content has been removed from a game. The release of Sony PlayStation’s original Little Big Planet was delayed in 2008 since it contained song lyrics with quotes from the Quran, an issue that has caused continued debates about censorship in the industry of late.
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It cant be un-intentional. How come they can quote exact religious material and that also about Islam, without having any clue.. They always do these 'mistakes' regarding Islam only !
@Hardliner: Good reply keep it up..
@sam:
ok sam, what if they write the very name of your most beloved (like your mother or father) on a grave in a game??? would u like that??? am well aware of ur exact answer even if u deny that!!! so stop this over-acting of a liberal....... ur "Shah se ziada shah ka wafadar" approach won't change ur descent
The text isnt offensive. Also its above a 3d model of a toilet in a virtual environment, the toilet isnt dirty... I don't understand how that is offensive! What i think is worse is that ppl keep religious texts (books stickers etc) in real life in dirty unhygienic areas.
@sam: i think offence like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It seems some of us are more interested in getting offended than actually doing anything positive. That is why we are where we are.
With due Respect: The Quote on the frame in this game was hung in a toilet so It is not bearable to us to present such quotes at any Ir-relevant place in the game. No matter the quote is fron Qur'an, Bible, Geeta or any sacred book in the world. Every Holy Book keeps good respect.
There would be No Offense if this frame was inside a Mosque while playing game. So, Respect to all is the peace way of living my fellow friends.
So what is the problem with this? It is a quote stating how peaceful islam is and how Allah loves beauty. It's not saying anything bad about Islam at all. There is nothing offensive about this at all.