Muslim Group Leader speaks out against LittleBigPlanet recall
Making waves in the video game world is the delay of LittleBigPlanet due to the in-game music that contained words from the Qur’an. But, as is often the case with religion and politics, there’s a twist to the story.
The president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy recently spoke out against – yes, against – the delay. Read more after the link.
Making waves in the video game world is the delay of LittleBigPlanet due to the in-game music that contained words from the Qur’an. But, as is often the case with religion and politics, there’s a twist to the story.
M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., president of the non-profit American Islamic Forum for Democracy recently spoke out against – yes, against – the delay. He had a lot of things to say about the matter, but here are the more salient points:
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 But to demand that it be withdrawn is predicated on a society which gives theocrats who wish to control speech far more value than the central principle of freedom of expression upon which the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.
You can read Jasser’s whole response to the delay after the source link.
Related Articles:
- Little Big Controversy hits mainstream news
- Qur’an in LittleBigPlanet poster feels “partially responsible” for delay, sends apologies
- No more drama please: new LittleBigPlanet Europe release date announced
Via EDGE
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