Sony Entertainment has announced that it is recalling the Playstation 3 video game, LittleBigPlanet, from retailers after it learned that the soundtrack featured some Arabic-language lines which were also in the Quran and backed with music Sony said that “one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Koran.” the two phrases are (literally translated from the original Arabic): “Every soul shall have the taste of death” and “All that is on earth will perish.”.
I’m shocked and irritated, not at the Sony company, but more so at us Muslims who have brought this type of paranoia upon ourselves over the past years. It is a natural reaction for companies to steer away from these hyper sensitive issues staying clear of the extremist element in the religion of Islam simply for the fear of being caught in a blood bath of some awkward religious controversy. I must now worriedly ask can we coax our own people to be a little more understanding or has the time for reconciliation passed us by. [Post edited fractionally just to clarify the confusion that was seen within the comments section]
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15 responses to “[MiniLinks] Sony recalls PS3 game Little Big Planet because of ‘Arabic’ words”
Can we coax our own people to be a little more understanding or has the time for understanding and reconciliation passed us by.
Understanding of what?
I don’t think you have any right to solicit or advocate on behalf of the publisher or the developer. It was their decision, whatever the reason might be. The article mentioned above says this: …after it learned that the soundtrack featured some Arabic-language lines from the Koran backed with music. So they DID admit using verses from The Holy Quran?
I personally believe it was good decision. It’s not in any company’s favor to use emotional sensitivities of a large mass of people as a marketing tool; regardless they are ready for things like reconciliation, and blah, blah, blah.
I don’t know what the fuss is all about? You weren’t going to end up playing the game, anyways.
@Jacob – I apologies I may have not explained my position well – My comment was geared towards muslims being viewed as a hyper-reactive nation – and in that context SONY was correct in this recall – Im sure this decision would have cost them a ton of money – but its better to make mends then face the wrath of the ‘extremist Muslim’ who may see the mere usage of words being blasphemous and curse Sony forever – I feel it should not so – the sentence used [though I have not heard it in context] may just be a coincidence of sorts. I could be wrong – if the song may have carried a far greater message that is
I think Sony was right for issuing the recall – I thank them. But my question is to our own people – is this what we have been reduced to fighting over mere words!!! religion of Islam is far above that, and its the faith which is more important then just a word appearing in the Holy Quran.
Jacob I apologize if my comment was misunderstood
I work for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, so I have to be very careful about what I say.
What I will say is that in the wake of the decision, there has been the usual uninformed and regrettable backlash against all Muslims, including many, many gamers (a lot of whom have already been brainwashed by the media to regard all Muslims, that’s you and me Dr. Sahib, as terrorists)
Sony was in a very difficult position. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Shahid – again apologies – Im not attacking SONY – heck I better edit my post to say that – I believe it was a wise decison by SONY – to recall – but my question is TO the MUSLIMS to be more understanding – and NOT over react –
I agree with you Shahid – on the backlash expected – but then do we ignore and overlook the stupdity of our own brethren – I guess not – it was wise of SONY not to step into this hot water – but reform has to begin somewhere within us – will it succeed 😉 you and I know its a long shot !!! lol
PS – I have edited the last paragraph of the post just to steer away from the confusion arising from the post – the old text was as follows
I understood you weren’t attacking Sony, and there is absolutely no need to apologise. However, our Muslim brothers didn’t over-react either, it is a bit more complicated than that. I’m sorry I can’t say more publicly.
i also dont understand the fuss. No one made a big deal about “Bohemian Rhapsody” nor did they make a big fuss about BT’s “Memories in a sea of forgetfulness” and “Firewater” which featured lyrics similar in nature.
Dear Teeth Maestro
I read your article with great interest.I support your concern as originally written upon in the article .Because it is a website and people from any part of the world can approach it so soemtimes we do not understand the real thought wave or current on which the article is based.
We have to be extremely vigilant in these days anything regarding Quran and Prophet Muhammad(PBUH),attempts have been made to smear Islam :
Few years ago Channel used Arrabic Claigraphy on their clothes.International Top Fashion megazine used Nigeria mosque for modeling semi nude poses.
Translations of Quran words are changed under the pretext that it is modern time so in translation the better word is this than that.We have to be vigillant and moniter such things and register our protest.
Now coming to your article and the context of Sonny,we in Britain have so many such complaints.That is why I understand what you mean.
Only last year a Christian British school said they will not have Christmas party because it hurts the feelings of muslim students,why Christians are celebrating Christmas?
Less than six months ago ,Muslims took offensive to a television advertisement in which police were shown using a dog (I believe it was a guide dog).On screen TV advertisement of police ,there is a protest from muslims.
Three little pigs ,story is banned from children school because it is offensive to Muslims.
Few years ago a muslim girl found it offensive to wear a school uniform and thought it was violence of her rights as being a muslim student to go to school without Jilbab.( it was a girls school only,please do correct if I am wrong)
A muslim woman took employer to the tribunal a year ago on the grounds that she was denied a hair dressers.Muslim woman wanted to cutt the hair while wearing hijab.
Another such case was a school teacher accused management of unfair treatment she wanted to teach children with hijab so that not only her face but mouth was behind the veil
Keeping the above examples in view I understand what you are saying and hundred percent agree ,we the muslims are presenting ourselves as offense takers like in punjabi they say,
“WHY ARE YOU MOVING WHILE MAKING A DOUGH”
This intolerance is closing the doors of technology for us ,we are seen in the World ignorant and unreasonable people and unfortunately this is how we are labelling Islam.
thank you for sharing at Jaiku 🙂
BELOW IS THE MOST SOUND VOICE OF REASON
I DO NOT SEE WHY IT SHOULD BE SENSORED OR DELEATED
”
I’m shocked and irritated, not at the Sony company, but more so at us Muslims who have brought this type of paranoia seen across the world upon ourselves. It is a natural reaction for companies to react this way considering the hyper sensitive nature of extremists in the religion of Islam simply for the fear of being caught in a blood bath of some awkward religious controversy. Can we coax our own people to be a little more understanding or has the time for understanding and reconciliation passed us by.”
This is very right step from the Sony to delay the release of this game.
I read the whole story online, from Sony itself, conclusion: they really did well by NOT PLAYING WITH THE NERVES OF MUSLIMS.
Much appreciated.
Like I said, I’m an employee of Sony and it’s a bit more complicated than has been portrayed and understood by many.
It’s difficult for outsiders to to draw a conclusion without access to all the facts. I would also include attacking “sensitive Muslims” in the above category too. It’s really not the headline that everyone keeps making it out to be.
Many people have incorrectly inferred that “Sony bows to pressure from over-sensitive Muslims and withdraws game”. It’s not like that at all.
open mindedness is a good thing but one should not also be HYPERSENSITVE about ” self image”
Mr.Shahid understoodthat you know the inside story and maybe it was more sensitive issue.The point is not about ,”WHY SONNY WITHDREW”.The point is people are not even interested to know.
They just say,here we go again,Islam and muslims offensive………
Arabic is a language not Quran.Quran is in Arabic.We muslims need to protect Quran (from misinterpretation)not Arabic Language.
I didn’t say it was a more “sensitive” issue, I said it was a more “complicated” issue. I wish I could be more forthcoming with detail, but I can’t in public. Please don’t blame Muslims either. Neither Muslims nor Sony are to blame. If we keep discussing it without knowing the actual facts, we just make the issue bigger and more negative than it actually is.