Fortnite slammed as players can destroy building 'which looks like Islamic holy site'

[OMB]

Footage has gone viral of a Fortnite scene where a character carrying a scythe walks around a complex looking like the Great Mosque of Mecca, complete with the Kaaba-like structure in the centre



Islamic officials are calling for a ban of Fortnite over a location that looks similar to the Kaaba holy site
Officials are calling for a ban of Fortnite over a location that looks similar to the Kaaba holy site

Indonesian officials have called for a ban of the videogame Fortnite as players can destroy a location that resembles the Kaaba holy site in Mecca.

In an update to the game, online players are able to attack the building that looks similar to the Kaaba, one of Islam's holiest sites located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to move a level up.

Footage has gone viral of a scene where a character carrying a scythe walks around a complex looking like the Great Mosque of Mecca, complete with the Kaaba-like structure in the centre.

The footage has reportedly been around since 2019, but it appears to only recently have come to widespread attention.

Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia's Tourism and Creative Economy minister, called for a ban of the popular videogame over claims that it is blasphemous.

He said "We face the Kaaba at least five times a day, wherever we are in the world, to perform the obligatory prayers or the sunnah (optional) prayers.

"I was told that in this game there was an icon that was considered to resemble Kaaba that must be destroyed to acquire new weapons and advance to the next level.

"This in my opinion is very much against the noble values, especially in terms of religion, including religious harmony, so this is a very sensitive matter."

He has reportedly instructed his staff to review the content and ban it if necessary.

Similarly, in a TV interview, director of Al Azhar International Center for Electronic Fatwa in Egypt, Osama al-Hadidy, also felt it was right to ban Fortnite.

He claimed that it encourages "violence or containing false ideas which distort faith or show contempt for religious beliefs".

Following the controversy, the developers of Fortnite clarified that a screenshot of a character standing in front of a Kaaba-like structure was the result of modifications in the game's "creative mode" which allows users to design their own "island" and denied any attempt to intentionally depict the holy site.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/fortnite-slammed-players-can-destroy-24485836

 

[guna]

It looks more like a Square shaped Honey Comb.

 

[MenInG]

By itself the Cube would not mean much but the surroundings are pretty similar to that of the Holy Mosque in Makkah

 

[street cricketer]

When I read the headline, I thought it was one of those trivial issues that people kick up a big fuss about.

But seeing the picture, you have to say it looks very much like the Kaaba. Including it in a game where one can destroy it is very disrespectful and people are right to call the game out on it. Whether it is a part of the game map itself or it was a custom map created by an over enthusiastic user remains to be seen. I'm certainly not of the Fortnite generation, so have no idea about it.

 

[cricketjoshila]

This is deliberate. Make no mistake about it.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Religious symbols should be not be made into commodities or ridiculed in this manner. I wonder when these atheists will stop with their desecration of the sacred and why it gives them such a thrill?

 

[Itachi]

this should be removed from the game. Very stupid decision to put it there in the first place. The sentiment of people should be respected.

 

[OMB]

This is deliberate. Make no mistake about it.

Agreed. Looks like it is mapped by a player who is trying to stir up controversy. Fortnite didn't say whether they have taken down this island scene.

 

[topspin]

In the OP, skip to the last paragraph and you will see that this has nothing to do with the developers. A player, who I suspect to be an Islamaphobe, has come up with this in the "creative mode" which allows players to design their own island.

However, when it comes to Battle Royale games, Call of Duty: Warzone is a far superior game.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Yup. The player did that deliberately

 

[sweep_shot]

I suspect this is a gamer who did this. He/She was probably trying to be cool/edgy.

Big mistake. Fortnite should remove this.

 

[PakLFC]

They could not show it altogether as the kaaba but it is supposed to be that. They mentally prepare people before the actual event but inshallah this will never happen. Allah has his own plans.

 

[Varun]

This is deliberate. Make no mistake about it.

Yep. No publicity is bad publicity etc. I notice Fortnite downloads on Steam have spiked over the past week.

 

[OMB]

They could not show it altogether as the kaaba but it is supposed to be that. They mentally prepare people before the actual event but inshallah this will never happen. Allah has his own plans.

What actual event? What on earth are you talking about?

 

[UzmanBeast]

It's going to bring attention towards a dying abomination referred to as a video game. Epic Games are supposedly very touchy about racist remarks, let's see if they have the same attitude towards religious degradation.

 

[OMB]

It's going to bring attention towards a dying abomination referred to as a video game. Epic Games are supposedly very touchy about racist remarks, let's see if they have the same attitude towards religious degradation.

Are there more games which are anti religious?

I was into gaming (unless you accept simcity or Civilization or Pharaoh as games)

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

That definitely looks like Kabah Mosque

 

[UzmanBeast]

Are there more games which are anti religious?

I was into gaming (unless you accept simcity or Civilization or Pharaoh as games)

Epic Games is the creator organization of that abomination known as Fortnite.

Most recognized gaming companies avoid any sort of religious degradation in their games except for maybe Call of Duty for a different reason. COD has a lot of missions in the Middle East in campaign, so they try to paint a true picture, and usually don't go that far and aren't racist in any manner.

There is an element of Islamophobia present, because someone who says racial slurs is more likely to get banned than someone who makes religious criticism. I've observed this countless times, but it's mostly because these companies are in the west, so their communities tolerate Islamophobia more than racism, which is concerning.

 

[PakLFC]

What actual event? What on earth are you talking about?

The event that they are planning to destroy the kaaba under some false pretense is what I am talking about. All such things are first shown in films or games so to mentally prepare the public.

 

[Tubs]

No big deal. If you're offended, don't play.