We all like a good laugh here at Destructoid, which is why we're more than happy to chat about Imam Nabil Al Awadi, an extremist Islamic leader who wants more videogames about slaughtering Jews. Oh Mr. Awadi, you do make us laugh.
Back in 2006, the radical Kuwaiti orator discussed the corrupting influence of videogames, and seemed unable to understand why it wasn't cool to have videogames centered around kicking the sh*t out of Jews. While his comments are quite old, the recently surfaced footage does lend us a disturbing glimpse into the mind of a volatile and hate-filled individual, and how he views videogames as an opportunity to influence children with his rather grim way of thinking.
"As their games corrupt our morals, now they are making games with their current wars," explains the cheeky chappy. "Their wars, that are not Islamic, in Islamic countries have turned into a computer games. When the child plays, he adopts a character that is not Islamic, that kills Muslims.
"Why, gentlemen, should it not be the opposite? Why can't we produce a few games like these? Why can't we make games that instead of teaching children how to slaughter the Muslims, they can teach them how to free the Al-Aqsa mosque. The child will play and slaughter Jews and others."
The Imam then discusses an Islamic-themed videogame: "Not only children, but adults too, will kill heretics and free the Al Aqsa mosque. There are games with pit battles, it's nice!"
Of course, no retail game would dare make you kill explictily named Muslims as Awadi suggests. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, for example, certainly had Middle Eastern "insurgents," but no religious context was ever provided. That kind of renders his argument null and void, but in the meantime, I'm sure he can just play Left 4 Dead and pretend the zombies are Jewish if that'll help him get his rocks off.
Contest:
6:20 PM on 02.02.2009
| 
Of course, look at it from their point of view. Although it is never said in-game, Muslim terrorists are the favorite targets for "Go America!" games. Wouldn't you be a little offended is you were Muslim?
Still doesn't make this guy right.
Yeaaaaah. These people should not be allowed to practice Islam.
Because they don't conform to your views of what Islam should and shouldn't be?
I personally don't find any of what this guy said to be all that radical. I certainly don't agree with him, but I don't find it the least bit surprising.
I mean, come on guys. KKK dudes have been making "racial cleansing" PC games for the past 10 years.
In all seriousness, I wish these groups would take a "fight fire with fire" approach rather than start bombing shit. Think there's an anti-Muslim bias in games? Make your own games. It seems like a lot of these people would literally rather kill themselves for their cause rather than take on the responsibility of making any actual art/entertainment-- probably in part because one group that particularly excels in that area, is Jews. It would take real courage for them to seriously commit to competing in that arena.
How could the possibly compete when their 'opponent' controls everything.
Their hypothetical Jew-killing game would not complete with COD4, nor would it deserve to; it would take time and effort to build competitive games, and they haven't the interest. Which is fine, but then don't complain endlessly about the power of the media when you are unwilling to create your own media.
Unless you honestly believe that Muslims are physically incapable of creating good games, which I don't believe for a second.
I mean, the counter-terrorists aren't specifically Jewish and the terrorists aren't specifically Muslims, but then again, the same can be said of CoD4
And then I finished the article and "Not only children, but adults too, will kill heretics and free the Al Aqsa mosque. There are games with pit battles, it's nice!" ruined it. This guy is insane and shouldn't be considered a spiritual leader.
I say man on street wants Islamic Leader to Fuck Right Off.
Religious Fanatics are the cancer that is killing Religion's good points.
Just for a second think that what if Hitler won WW2. and then all the games that are there would be from Nazi side of Germany. and would have allies as enemies.
It is human nature to make literature on there winnings or even on going wars they wish to win. But that is ART. and art don't belong to any religion or culture.It can only be defeated by a better piece of art and even then the old one will not be left alone.
I want that leader to make his own developer company and make his own game. there are lots of Muslim programmers out there and some of them might just help him out. And if this game is as good as any good shooter out there or even close I guarantee that people will play it.
But if are just sleeping in the bed and dreaming that someone else is gonna do your work for you its just stupid.
Ahh and considering how many games i play i should now be able to pilot a F-22 Raptor(That would be fun). but gotta admit i haven't even ever shot a bullet(Well i do think i will hit bulls eyes if i try, will i?).
Those nutjob, right-wing Christian conservatives always have to run their mouths, don't they?
Wait... this isn't about ending violence in videogames? It's not the looney Christian conservatives? Oh, I see we can still blame it on them though... right? Of course we can.
Damn crazy right wing Christian conservatives and their Muslim killing propagandizing COD4!! I wish they would just GTFO out of my country AMIRITE??!
It wouldn't be news if they went to a Church/Mosque and just said how nice everybody was. The reason you only see negative things about muslims in the news is because it'll get people to watch. If you really wanted to fin out about it, I recommend reading up on the religion itself.
And personally, I don't think it has anything to do with being Muslim, it just so happens that this is the war we're in right now. If we were fighting Venezuela or Cuba, then COD4 would have been there. All you have to do is look at the title and you know why you are in the Middle East (What could be more "Modern" than the current war with Iraq?).
Ghost Recon: Island Thunder had you (The player) killing Cubans, and as a Cuban myself, I was offended in no way at all. Did I think Ubisoft was anti-Cuban and wanted to make a game where you are "trained" to slaughter Cubans? The answer is no. I don't think he should be upset that there are games focused around "killing Muslims" because that isn't true at all. And besides, if he does feel that way, what's stopping him from making his own game? They have the programmers, so stop bitching about it and get something done.
Besides, Muslims weren't the only enemy in COD4. Do your fucking research.
Fucking exactly. The only Muslims who are offended by COD4 are ones who must clearly sympathize with terrorists. If you don't agree with the kind of wacky shit extremists get up to, you should be feeling persecuted by a game that is, quite clearly, about wacky extremists.
But only slightly.