kk.
22-10-2008, 04:56 PM
You've probably heard about the recent controversy surrounding Little Big Planet and a song featuring lyrics taken from the Quran -- after all, it's the reason many eager gamers don't have the game in their hands at this very moment. The whole issue began when concerned Muslim gamers alerted Sony that the song may offend some members of their religion. Sony, probably still feeling the sting from the Church of England controversy, decided to delay the game to strip the song out and avoid a potential backlash. Well, prepare to have your head spun a little, as the leader of Muslim group has now spoken out against Sony's decision.
Speaking to Edge, M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., president of the non-profit American Islamic Forum for Democracy, expressed his opposition to this form of censorship:
"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 But to demand that it be withdrawn is predicated on a society which gives theocrats who wish to control speech far more value than the central principle of freedom of expression upon which the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.
"...We [the AIFD] 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."
It's nice to know that there are two completely different views on this issue coming from similar groups of people. Still, let's hope Sony doesn't recall the recall, if only for our sanity's sake.
lol, theyre still going ahead btw
Speaking to Edge, M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., president of the non-profit American Islamic Forum for Democracy, expressed his opposition to this form of censorship:
"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 But to demand that it be withdrawn is predicated on a society which gives theocrats who wish to control speech far more value than the central principle of freedom of expression upon which the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.
"...We [the AIFD] 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."
It's nice to know that there are two completely different views on this issue coming from similar groups of people. Still, let's hope Sony doesn't recall the recall, if only for our sanity's sake.
lol, theyre still going ahead btw