ALOR STAR: The Kedah Fatwa Council today announced that the mobile game ‘Pokemon Go’ has been deemed as ‘haram’ (forbidden).
Kedah Mufti Datuk Sheikh Muhamad Baderuddin Ahmad said this was agreed upon based on decisions made by other fatwa councils in the country, as well as views by Muslim scholars oversea including those from the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
“In our discussion, we agreed that the game should be prohibited, prevented and blocked from being played in this country.
“I think the word prohibited, prevented and blocked have given meaning that the game is more than ‘haram’,” he told a press conference today.
He said the council is of the opinion that by declaring the game as just ‘haram’ is not enough, and urged the government and related authorities to ban the game's application from being downloaded and played in the country.
Baderuddin said the council has established that the game not only has a negative impact on the Muslim community but also the nation in general.
He cited the example of the game being played in mosques and even prayer houses of other religions.
He said that the game also could harm the country’s safety and security, especially when it is played in restricted areas such as army camps and other high security areas.
“The fatwa council will propose to the Kedah Islamic Religious Department to include an explanation on the dangers of Pokemon Go in its Friday prayer sermon, and to also put up signs at mosques preventing the game from being played there,” he said.