Title: Saudi Bans Pokemon

Source: CNN.com, 03/26/01

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Saudi bans Pokemon

Pokemon game has been criticised in several countries
March 26, 2001
Web posted at: 5:54 AM EST (1054 GMT)


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Pokemon games and cards have been banned under an
Islamic edict issued by Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority.

The fatwa by Saudi Arabia's Higher Committee for Scientific Research and Islamic
Law said Pokemon "possessed the minds" of Saudi children, promoted Zionism and
involved gambling which is banned in Islam.

The edict stated that the video game and cards featuring the Pokemon characters
have symbols including "the Star of David, which everyone knows is connected to
international Zionism and is Israel's national emblem."

A Nintendo spokesperson in Tokyo on Monday has denied that religious symbols are
depicted on Pokemon items and said Nintendo did not design them with religious
symbols in mind.

Pokemon cards typically have a brightly coloured picture of a character along
with geometric symbols corresponding to the fanciful powers it possesses.

The Pokemon phenomenon originated in Japan three years ago as a video game. It
quickly expanded in cartoons, comic books and trading cards, becoming a
multi-billion dollar enterprise that is enormously popular around the world.

The edict alleges that Pokemon "has possessed the minds of a large chunk of our
students, captivated their hearts and become their preoccupation, (they) spend
all their money to buy the cards and compete with each other to win more."

The game has been criticised in several countries, with a Christian church in
Mexico calling it "demonic" and organisations in Slovakia saying television
shows based on the game are detrimental to children.

In Turkey the series caused a public scandal last year after two children jumped
off their balconies apparently to imitate Pokemon characters with special
powers. Both children survived.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.