“Catch Squirtle at your own risk — at least in Saudi Arabia,” Natalie Musumeci reports for The New York Post. “The kingdom renewed its 2001 fatwa against the cute cartoon creatures on Wednesday, saying the viral cellphone game Pokémon Go is a form of gambling, and therefore forbidden under Islamic law.”
“The edict renews a 2001 decree by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, issued when the game was still played with cards and on video game consoles,” Musumeci reports. “The fatwa cited a number of ways in which the game goes against Islamic law, including ‘polytheism against God by multiplying the number of deities, and gambling, which God has forbidden in the Koran and likened to wine and idols.'”
Musumeci reports, “Pokémon Go is not officially available in Saudi Arabia, but many in the country are believed to have figured out how to download the app, according to reports.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Gambling? Puleeze.
Damn, this table is stone cold. Hey Siri, what’s the moneyline vig for tonight’s Red Sox game? And, is #2 wearing blinkers in the 8th at Gulfstream?
So what is prince Al walheed (or whatever his name is) stock portfolio. That is massive gambling.
Religion gone wild!
Moronic comparison.
They are just afraid of Pikachu.
Hey Saudi Arabia. It’s not real, Pikachu really isn’t going to thunderbolt you.
More to the point, Pikachu isn’t a god. Not even in the game. :/
Seriously,
I have no love for this Pokemon, but these Saudi’s are whacked. Amazing that the US Gov’t coddles them, Hillary too, for all the talk and bluster about women’s rights, etc. Will she cut off diplomatic relations with this torturous regime? Heck no, money trumps all…..liberals included.
Since the oil crisis in the early 1970s, access to crude oil trumps all other considerations, including women’s rights, human rights, etc. In addition, the U.S. wants to maintain a strong partner in the Middle East who also has the money to purchase F-16s. We overlook issues in China and elsewhere for similar reasons.
Agreed.
One evil empire helps out another evil empire. Don’t you ever pay attention to history?
Of course. All politicians lie to get in office. That is your history lesson for today buddy.
Hey, be nice! I’m a liberal and I agree with what you posted.
Pokemon Go is not gambling. It is gay. Where is a roof?
Well, it is “gay” in the humorous sense of the word. Could be a problem in the KSA.
Diddling picachu? 12 lashes every Sunday for 6 months. Sodomy, punishable by death…
Gambling? Gosh that’s almost as moronic as listening to G.W. Bush whining about Iraq having a weapons of mass destruction program, being involved in the second 9-11 and crying like a spoiled brat, WAAAAAAAAAAH we got to invade somebody and torture people too.
Almost as funny but nothing quite tops that moron. When it comes to being the greatest buffoon it’s mission accomplished for G.W. Bush, from a nation that believes they are above the law.
It appears that you have some unresolved issues, road kill.
There is a big difference between someone who has unresolved issues and someone who is pointing that someone has resolve issues. Obviously you can’t discern the difference but let me help you.
I’m not the one who went off to war on a whim. That’s for those with unresolved issues. I’m not the one who decided it’s OK to torture people. That’s for those with unresolved issues.
I hope that helps for next time.
Have pity on poor George W. It was the Neo-Cons (by way of Israeli Intelligence) who pulled his strings. He just went along for the perks and Percodan.
Any guesses what GW was high on at the police memorial service in Dallas last week? From his ruddy cheeks, I vote booze:
Party time: George Bush shocks America with little dance at Dallas police memorial service (VIDEO)
The tune that made the former president so giddy was an organ and choir version of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, but if the sound had been off, one might have thought Bush was doing a campfire number.
A jolly little dance number! 😉
Bush Derangement Syndrome lives. Derek, seek help.
It makes him feel important to the lesser peoples….
Thanks for the great vid Derek, nice to see George the buffoon come out of retirement.
I don’t know how the guy lives with himself. Perhaps all the medication (to put it kindly) is how he does it.
they also banned PHOTOGRAPHY including ‘cat pictures’
note he made the statement on CAMERA (?)
How could anyone hate on Pokemon when all it has given to the world is fun and excitement?
The Muslim World: Still living in the 8th century A.D.
So you Islamists will have to wait for vacation to play.
Actually, the woman I have been dating for 6 months is from Amman, very intellectual, beautiful, funny and way more informed than you!!
Then you should know that people from Jordan are quite different than typical Saudis!
I’m very aware of this.
It is our Liberal friend who’s painting with the large brush.
Demonstrating again your lack of humor or a sense of irony.
How is that?
Really, explain.
√ Again!
Pretty much your standard answer when asked to explain anything (not computer related) in depth.
So let me help you; When a Liberal makes a disparaging joke, it is considered good natured humor and when a Conservative does it is called racism, even when race is not involved.
So don’t worry, Derek, I’m a bigger man than to hold this against you, considering how ill-informed you are about so many OTHER issues!
I feel so provoked to have a raving lunatic flame war with you! *kidding*
Don’t many rich Arabs own racehorses. Should that be allowed?
All that pre-medievil shit they impose on the common man, themselves?? Bleedin hypocrites!! They screw around, enjoy alcoholc beverages AND gamble, like you said (among all) on horseracing!
Raising horses and horse racing are ancient Arab customs. A race need not involve betting.
BTW: Arab horses are my all time favorites of the equine.