Last week, Sony delayed one of the biggest games of the year when it recalledMedia Molecule-developed LittleBigPlanet on fear that in-game music that contained words from the Koran would incite anger among Muslim gamers.
But M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., president of the non-profit American Islamic Forum for Democracy told Edge on Monday, “Muslims cannot benefit from freedom of expression and religion and then turn around and ask that anytime their sensibilities are offended that the freedom of others be restricted.
“The free market allows for expression of disfavor by simply not purchasing a game that may be offensive.”
Jasser, who has also appeared on CNN, in the Washington Times and National Review, said that not only does the First Amendment support freedom of expression, but Mohammed also “defended the rights of his enemies to critique him in any way even if it was offensive to his own Islamic sensibilities or respect for Koranic scripture.”
Last week, a purported Muslim poster on Europe’s official PlayStation message boards pointed out that an in-game song in LittleBigPlanet, Tapha Niang by Malian kora player Toumani Diabate, contained audio derived from Koran scriptures.
Diabate is described as a “devout Muslim” in Internet reports.
Such use of Koran scripture would be offensive to Muslim gamers, according to statements made in the forum. “We Muslims consider the mixing of music and words from our Holy Koran deeply offending...” said one poster.
Sony promptly issued a worldwide recall on LittleBigPlanet, delaying the game a few days to address the issue.
Jasser said that the demand to censor, as well as Sony’s willingness to bend at the request, is counterproductive to freedom of speech.
"…To demand that [the game] be withdrawn is predicated on a society which gives theocrats who wish to control speech far more value than the central principle of freedom of expression upon which the very practice and freedom of religion is based.”
Jasser added, “The fact that the music writer is a devout Muslim should highlight that at the core of this issue is not about offending ‘all Muslims,’ but only about freedom of expression and the free market.”
He still said that he does not endorse the use of Koranic versus in non-educational videogames, calling the literature “the words of God.”
But he took a clear stance in upholding First Amendment rights.
“AIFD stands against any form of censorship in the marketplace of ideas whether imposed by government or by corporations intimidated by the response of militants or those with an inappropriately sensitive level of political correctness,” Jasser said.
Sony Computer Entertainment America did not return further request for comment as of press time.
Jasser’s full text, sent exclusively to Edge, is posted on the following page.
First and foremost, the American Islamic Forum for Democracy believes that true freedom of expression and religious freedom demands that individuals be allowed to express themselves without fear of retribution or offense. Our U.S. Constitution and its First Amendment guarantees that freedom of expression. It is our personal belief that our faith of Islam also teaches the respect of that freedom to all. This can be seen in the example of the Prophet Mohammed where he defended the rights of his enemies to critique him in any way even if it was offensive to his own Islamic sensibilities or respect for Koranic scripture.
Muslims cannot benefit from freedom of expression and religion and then turn around and ask that anytime their sensibilities are offended that the freedom of others be restricted. The free market allows for expression of disfavor by simply not purchasing a game that may be offensive. But to demand that it be withdrawn is predicated on a society which gives theocrats who wish to control speech far more value than the central principle of freedom of expression upon which the very practice and freedom of religion is based.
As to this specific game and whether I would want my children to purchase it, it is difficult to comment without having seen the game and the context of the song. Some have expressed offense over Koranic scripture and song. Many very respectful children’s songs are done in a tonal fashion which most Muslims enjoy and find enriching in their relationship with God. We are unable to definitely comment on it without seeing the game.
At AIFD we do try to frontally counter radical interpretations of Koranic scripture by militant Islamists with peaceful post-modern interpretations of Koran. We do have concerns that the particular passages though probably intended to be innocuous by the Muslim singer, may when combined with a violent videogame actually promote Islamist radicalism rather than de-radicalization which needs to be more culturally prevalent.
At AIFD, we personally do not endorse the mixing of Koranic verses felt by Muslims to be the words of God with non-educational videogames. The fact that the music writer is a devout Muslim should highlight that at the core of this issue is not about offending “all Muslims” but only about freedom of expression and the free market. AIFD stands against any form of censorship in the marketplace of ideas whether imposed by government or by corporations intimidated by the response of militants or those with an inappropriately sensitive level of political correctness.
We do not endorse any restriction whatsoever on the release of this videogame but would only ask those with concerns to simply choose not to buy it. We would hope that the producer’s decision not be made in any way out of fear but rather simply based upon freedom of expression and the free market.