CAIR Asks Wal-Mart to Drop Game Glorifying Religious Violence

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 PRNewswire-USNewswire -- The Council on American-
Islamic Relations (CAIR) today asked Wal-Mart to stop selling a video game
that glorifies religious violence and may harm interfaith relations.
    CAIR says it has received complaints about the game "Left Behind:
Eternal Forces," produced by Left Behind Games Inc. The game reportedly
rewards players for either converting or killing people of other faiths.
    In a letter to Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott Jr., CAIR Executive Director
Nihad Awad wrote in part:
    "We believe the message this game is promoting is one of religious
intolerance. The game's enemy team includes people with Muslim-sounding
names. When asked about the Arab and Muslim-sounding names, Left Behind
Games' President Jeffrey Frichner said, 'Muslims are not believers in Jesus
Christ' - - and therefore cannot be on the side of Jesus in the game. (San
Francisco Chronicle, 12/12/06) As you may know, Muslims do in fact revere
Jesus as one of God's prophets.
    "In the post 9-11 climate, when improving interfaith relations should
be a priority for all, this type of product only serves to dehumanize
others and increase interfaith hostility and mistrust.
    "Each year, CAIR issues an annual report on the status of American
Muslim civil rights, outlining hundreds of incidents involving anti-Muslim
discrimination, harassment and hate crimes. It is our experience that many
of these incidents result from Islamophobic rhetoric and negative images of
Muslims in popular culture. . .
    "We have no desire to stifle creativity or inhibit freedom of speech.
However, it is our duty as America's leading Islamic civil rights group to
promote mutual understanding and ensure the safety of Americans of all
faiths.
    "We also believe that as a company that prides itself in hiring and
offering services to a diverse group of people, it is Wal-Mart's corporate
social responsibility to take into account the potential social impact of
its decision to sell this harmful game. We, therefore, respectfully request
the removal of the video game 'Left Behind: Eternal Forces' from your
shelves."
    CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices
and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.