Kedah first state to declare Pokemon Go as 'haram'
Astro Awani
August 10, 2016 20:15 MYT
August 10, 2016 20:15 MYT
An Aug 8 file photo of Pokemon Go being played at the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya. - BERNAMApic/Files
Kedah today became the first state in the country to declare the virtual reality game 'Pokemon Go' as haram (forbidden in Islam).
The decision was made by the Kedah Fatwa Council in a meeting comprising 10 committee members held at its office in Anak Bukit here today.
State Mufti Datuk Sheikh Mohammed Baderudin said the game should be prohibited, prevented and blocked from being played in Malaysia.
"We want more than that. We want this game to be stopped by the authorities. If we just declare it as haram, people will still play it.
"We found that Pokemon Go contains more harm than good and gives negative impact to Muslims," he told reporters after chairing the meeting.
Last week, Muslims were told to not engage themselves in the virtual world of Pokemon characters and play the game due to the principles of maslahah (public interest) and harmful consequences.