Acehnese Ulema Issues Fatwa Deeming PUBG and Similar Games Haram

JAKARTA - The tragedy of the shooting of mosque worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand, caused uproar. The world mourned. Indonesian Muslims also expressed their condolences. The Ulema Consultative Council (MPU) in Aceh even took a stand.

The group of Acehnese clerics considered the attack on mosque worshippers to be similar to a war game. As a result, they agreed to issue a fatwa declaring PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, or PUBG, and similar games haram, as they were considered to incite people to violence.

The world was shocked by the 2019 shooting of mosque worshippers in Christchurch. Australian man Brenton Tarrant attempted a major crime. He planned to kill Muslims attending the Al-Noor Mosque and Linwood Mosque.

He began his attack by live-streaming his crime on Facebook. Brenton arrived at the mosque armed with a semi-automatic firearm and attacked worshippers at the Al-Noor Mosque and then Linwood Mosque. Instead of targeting only adult men and women, he also shot children.

The victims ran for their lives. However, the shooting killed 50 people and injured 50 more. The attack was considered the most heinous in New Zealand history. Brenton declared himself anti-immigrant.

Brenton also seemed to generalize that Muslims were no different from terrorists. Branton's narrative drew widespread condemnation. His actions in killing Muslims were condemned, especially by Indonesian Muslims.

Brenton's attack was deemed to be a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. Acehnese clerics even used Branton's case as a bad example. The Acehnese People's Consultative Assembly (MPU) did not want a similar incident to occur in Aceh. Consequently, the MPU tried to scapegoat PUBG and similar games.

The battle royale genre game was said to be similar to the actions of the Christchurch mosque shooter. Consequently, all Acehnese clerics who are members of the MPU issued a fatwa declaring PUBG and similar games haram on June 19, 2019.

"Because they create brutality, have the potential to change users' behavior negatively, and so on. Therefore, we conclude that they are haram. What we haram are PUBG and other similar war games that teach elements of violence, pornography, and Islamophobia."

"We prohibit all such games, both online and offline, including PlayStation. Any element of violence remains forbidden. We hope the government will make efforts to block game content that teaches physical and psychological violence to our future generations," said the Deputy Chairman of the Aceh MPU, Teungku H Faisal Ali, as quoted on the Kumparan page, June 19, 2019.

Protest against the Haram Fatwa

The fatwa prohibiting PUBG and similar games from playing has caused quite a stir. All Acehnese clerics, members of the MPU (Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly), were widely criticized. They were accused of hastily issuing the fatwa. The Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) also spoke out. The authorities believed the fatwa could backfire on creative workers in Aceh.

Bekraf was concerned about forcing creative workers in the digital gaming industry out of Aceh. Acehnese PUBG players are considered to have considerable experience in PUBG. Digital gamers also expressed their criticism.

They believed the fatwa prohibiting PUBG in Aceh could hinder the development of e-sports, which is currently developing in Indonesia. If the issue were simply a fear of war games increasing the desire for violence, parents could supervise their children's play.

Bekraf differed from the Aceh Provincial Government. Acting Governor of Aceh, Nova Iriansyah, welcomed the fatwa. Nova then asked all regents and mayors in Aceh to monitor and enforce the fatwa prohibiting PUBG and similar games.

The MPU (People's Consultative Assembly) also proposed to the government to punish those caught playing PUBG and similar games. The punishment deemed appropriate is public flogging. Anyone who plays PUBG is considered no different from violating Islamic law.

As a result, the fatwa (religious prohibition) began to be disseminated in many places in Aceh. The MPU even distributed stickers containing Fatwa MPU Aceh Number 3 of 2019, which reads: "Playing PUBG and similar games is Haram."

"So, in Aceh, as a country of sharia law, it is very appropriate that perpetrators who commit haram acts prohibited by Islam should be dragged into custody and given the sanction of caning according to the applicable regulations in Aceh."

"Although no sanctions have been implemented, as Muslims, if they continue to play these games, they will certainly sin. They will also be held accountable for their sins in the afterlife," said Teungku Abdurrani Adian, Chairman of the West Aceh Regency Ulema Consultative Assembly (MPU), as quoted on kompas.com, October 24, 2020.