Saudi Arabia Bans Pokemon Go Game

Saudi Arabia Bans Pokemon Go Game
It's "un-Islamic."

7.21.2016 News Sarah Fisher


The Saudi Arabian religious body has revived a 2001 prohibition on Pokemon, following calls for guidance on the newly released, popular smartphone Pokemon Go! game.

The kingdom’s Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta said in its latest announcement on its website that it has republished a 2001 edict on the game after “receiving many questions” on it from the public.
The 15-year-old fatwa said the game was too much like gambling and that the concept of its characters appeared to be based on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, which is rejected by Islam.
It also said most cards on the game carried symbols of “deviant” religions and organisations, such as “international zionism” and Israel, Christian crosses, freemasonry, and symbols from Japan’s native Shinto religion.

The edict said the Pokemon Go game is un-Islamic as it contains symbols of polytheism.

Pokémon Go uses smartphone satellite location, graphics and camera capabilities to overlay cartoon monsters on real-world settings, challenging players to capture and train the creatures for battles.
It has already been blamed for a wave of crimes, traffic violations and complaints in cities around the globe.