UAE’ ministry of justice and Islamic affairs is considering whether to issue a fatwa on the Pokemon game next week, reported the Gulf News.
A committee of religious scholars in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss the game and take action.
In Dubai, religious scholars have issued a fatwa denouncing Pokemon as unIslamic and having a negative impact on children.
According to the paper, the decision does not constitute a ban on sales of Pokemon although the Department of Economic Development is assessing the situation in the light of the fatwa.
The Dubai fatwa was issued after parents expressed concern about the game and asked for an Islamic interpretation.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar banned it, declaring that it was a form of gambling. The Saudi authorities have vowed to seize and destroy Pokemon games and accessories, and have banned imports of all items bearing Pokemon symbols.
The game has also been criticized by police and education officials in the US and UK for sparking playground fights among children, and some schools and parents have prohibited their children from any contact with it – Albawaba.com
