PC News | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Islamic painting in Modern Warfare 2 upsets Muslims

by Nathan Misa Featured 48 Comments 30 Votes 2795 Views 09/10/2012 Back to News

The "Favela" map of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has been temporarily removed following the discovery of, and complaints about a painting with Islamic holy teachings found in the map.

The painting, which reads around the frame a quote from Mohammed, "Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty," has been criticised as disrespectful to Muslim gamers due to the fact that it is located above a toilet in a crumbling bathroom.

The discovery of this image has prompted Activision into planning to remove the image from both Modern Warfare 2 and 3 via separate title updates. Activision announced their plans via Kotaku:

We apologise to anyone who found this image offensive. Please be assured we were unaware of this issue and that there was no intent to offend. We are working as quickly as possible to remove this image and any other similar ones we may find from our various game libraries.

We are urgently working to release a Title Update to remove the texture from Modern Warfare 3. We are also working to remove the texture from Modern Warfare 2 through a separate Title Update. Until the TU is ready, we have removed the Favela multiplayer map from online rotation.

Activision and our development studios are respectful of diverse cultures and religious beliefs, and sensitive to concerns raised by its loyal game players. We thank our fans for bringing this to our attention."

The video below is a short message to Infinity Ward from a Muslim gamer, who addresses the offensive imagery in question and why it is disrespectful to the Muslim community.

Get the Adobe Flash Player to see this video.

Source: Kotaku

By Nathan Misa

Link to us http://pc.mmgn.com/News/islamic-painting-in-modern-warfare-2-ups-9391

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Islamic painting in Modern Warfare 2 upsets Muslims Comments

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Kudos: 24,545

Makra

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

[Facepalm]

09/10/2012

ㅈㅈ

Kudos: 1,540

Viper593

[Facepalm]
A bit too far, I would say.

09/10/2012

Melbourne, Victoria

Kudos: 25,486

maxiboy

MW2?? This game is almost 3 years old, why has this only happened now?

09/10/2012

Sydney, NSW

Kudos: 1,922

The_Boss

And here comes the anti-Islamic and religious comments.

By the way did the developers knew they put it there during development?

09/10/2012

Straight out of Bel Air

Kudos: 92

Pugszly

Waah... someone go and get them a pacifier. It's a bloody painting for Christ sake, here's an idea don't play the game if your offended by it? Seems simple. Censorship is wrong, please grow the f*** up.

09/10/2012

Wyndham Vale, Victoria / Steam ID: pugszly

Kudos: 26,042

BBking

maxiboy said: MW2?? This game is almost 3 years old, why has this only happened now?

Because the Innocence of Muslims is too new??

I don't know. It's almost as if they're (yeah, Muslims) are looking for things to complain about because they're so oppressed (in western countries)...

However, that video isn't so bad. I mean, I guess if a Christian made such a video he'd just get laughed at but I'm sure many would also back them up.

Asking for it to be removed is fine. I don't have any problems with it. And boycotting the brand, sure. Happens all the time.

Why all the facepalming? It's not like they threatened with a Jihad or something. :E

09/10/2012

Sydney, NSW. Hills District

Kudos: 1,922

The_Boss

If they released a patch just replace it with something else then everything will be OK problem solved.

09/10/2012

Straight out of Bel Air

Kudos: 24,545

Makra

BBking said:
Asking for it to be removed is fine. I don't have any problems with it. And boycotting the brand, sure. Happens all the time.
Why all the facepalming? It's not like they threatened with a Jihad or something.

I really don't want to get in a big discussion about this, so hopefully I won't need to respond again after this.

Infinity Ward are happy to leave 'No Russian' in the game, but a painting with words about Allah (which are POSITIVE by the way) sitting above a toilet is not okay?

Also, why are Muslims so different to other religious/ethnic/minority groups? Such groups complain about things they take offense to all the time, yet no one is ever so willing to bow to a tiny bit of pressure like this. In doing so, Infinity Ward/Activision are just signalling to the Muslim community that they can get whatever they want with a bit of whinging, just because people are afraid to upset them. It signals that different standards apply to them. Personally I think that's bullshit. Youtube (though probably doing so more for their economic interests rather than moral interests) did the right thing by refusing to take down Innocence of Muslims, because they're no more special than anyone else.

(Pretty sure this will elicit a response from someone, so as a disclaimer these are just my initial thoughts about the matter and why I facepalmed in my first comment. It's a complicated issue and I'm not totally set in my position either.) :P

09/10/2012

ㅈㅈ

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

If it's so insignificant, what the hell does it matter if they choose to take it out?

Who cares about catering to a few upset Muslims? I can probably guarantee that most Muslims probably don't give a shit either way.

Just seems like another case of Muslim bashing by bigging up a non-issue.

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 353,714

Guyver

You can not do anything these days without offending someone or some group. You have tip toe around anything remotely close to religion these days it's insane.

09/10/2012

I'm a level 5 Laser Lotus

Kudos: 24,545

Makra

Pilkingbod said: If it's so insignificant, what the hell does it matter if they choose to take it out?
Who cares about catering to a few upset Muslims? I can probably guarantee that most Muslims probably don't give a shit either way.
Just seems like another case of Muslim bashing by bigging up a non-issue.

My comment doesn't show any Muslim bashing. If it was any other group my comment would be the same. I do think it's silly that they're getting upset about this, but my criticism is directed at Activision. The thing that concerns me is actions like this set precedents.

09/10/2012

ㅈㅈ

Kudos: 14,257

abujaffer

Holy crap you guys are intense about this. I understand a bit of confusion, but flat out hatred is a bit uncalled for here... I don't care how much whining people make, it's a sensitive issue and its removal is a GOOD thing. It shows the developers understand the sensitivity of the subject, and I can in no way see how anyone could be pissed off about this. You really have to have some sort of mental issue to be enraged by the removal, as if it's somehow offensive to you.

If it makes this argument any easier to understand, the reason this is offensive is NOT because it's a painting, or because the words are in the game, or because it's in a shooter. Counter Strike has had Qur'anic verses on their buildings for years, and nobody gives a shit. The reason is because it's in a bathroom, and that's very offensive to Muslims; you're symbolically taking a shit on the Prophet.

tl;dr There's specific reasons this is offensive despite the dozens of Islamic references in games, and if you're so hate-filled that you go into full rage-mode over something as trivial as this, then you really need some medical attention before anyone gets hurt over some real issue. [Facepalm]

09/10/2012

3D world... where everything, even flat stuff, are in 3D.

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

Makra said:
My comment doesn't show any Muslim bashing. If it was any other group my comment would be the same. The thing that concerns me is actions like this set precedents.

I'm not referring to your comment.
I'm talking about bigging up issues whenever a handful of Muslims have something to say.

Activision did the right thing by removing it, apologising, and moving on. It's done. It's in the past. They're not dwelling on anything major. They didn't intend to make a political, or religious statement. It was a mistake. They acknowledged it.
Simple solution to a simple problem.

I'm tired of people getting up in arms every time any person of the Muslim community raises an issue as if they speak for the entire race of Muslims.

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 24,545

Makra

abujaffer said: Holy crap you guys are intense about this. I understand a bit of confusion, but flat out hatred is a bit uncalled for here...

Flat out hatred? Where?? :E

By the way, you may not be aware that following the Innocence of Muslims being uploaded on youtube, we had Muslims marching through Australian streets demanding that people who offend Islam should be beheaded.

Perhaps that will help put our sensitivity into perspective a bit for you. No more comments from me, as this will only get messy.

09/10/2012

ㅈㅈ

Kudos: 10,334

punk

someone must have been bored to spot that lol

well at least it doesn't drastically change the game at all and gamers can continue on with their enjoyment of killing each other. pew pew pew.

luckily for me i have a hilarious picture of a kitty hanging for dear life on a branch, that surely won't offend anyone when they sit on the royal seat so I'm in the clear :D

09/10/2012

Kudos: 482

jenrob

Hey...I have that exact picture with the writing and everything above my toilet at home lol hope them muslims don't find where my house is and check my toilet :E

09/10/2012

On the other hand, you have different fingers

Kudos: 1,065

Diagonis83

I don't see why they have to change anything.
Create a patch, and launch it in the countries that seem to take offense to it.
Activision shouldn't have to bow down to any type of group or religion. Unless of coarse they feel this is wrong in their eyes only.
A few comments and a few lost sales, whoopidy doo.
If you're suddenly offended by anything anyone publishes or puts out, then don't play or view it. It's as simple as that.

09/10/2012

Claptrap "I'm over here, just listen to the sound of my soothing voice"

Kudos: 482

jenrob

I don't think anyone should bow down to any religion, If it's their belief and not yours then why do what they tell you? we don't bow down to catholics or christians anytime they complain about something. so what makes this religion so special compared to every other one?

09/10/2012

On the other hand, you have different fingers

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

jenrob said: we don't bow down to catholics or christians anytime they complain about something.

What do they have to complain about? Christianity is the dominant religion of the western world. Islam is not.

And FYI, Catholics are Christians...

And again, this is a HANDFUL OF MUSLIMS WHO ARE ALREADY THE MINORITY!!!

Jesus...

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 482

jenrob

And FYI, Catholics are Christians...

FYI, they aren't the same.

Also I work at a University and I see the "special Treatment" they get over regular non muslim people. They get their own prayer room's and toilet's. What are you getting so agro about? just stating the fact's that we drop everything to make them happy and this pic in a game is another example of it. And it's the fact that we have to stop what we want to do in the western world. Merry Christmas anyone? oh sorry that offends muslims, Happy holiday's then [Shifty]

09/10/2012

On the other hand, you have different fingers

Kudos: 1,922

The_Boss

This is going to start a flame war, every time there's something about religion or Islam it always the same thing and I say just let it go its only Call of Duty. Respect all faiths (except for Scientology that's all BS and evil) and learn to forgive.

09/10/2012

Straight out of Bel Air

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

Catholicism is a branch of Christianity, just as Mormonism and Lutheranism is...

Activision made the choice to take out the image because they felt it caused offense. Why are the Muslims taking the blame?
Deleting a line of code in a game nobody plays anymore is hardly "dropping everything to make them happy"...

There's a reason we have prayer rooms for Muslim people. We're a secular nation, that guarantees freedom of religion. Part of their religion involves prayer in a specific manner. So, we're just going to discriminate because they demand too much? Please. It's not getting in the way, why should you care? We're a diverse nation, in case you hadn't realised...

And where's your evidence to suggest "Merry Christmas" offends people? That's a load of horse shit.

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 482

jenrob

The_Boss said: This is going to start a flame war, every time there's something about religion or Islam it always the same thing and I say just let it go its only Call of Duty. Respect all faiths (except for Scientology that's all BS and evil) and learn to forgive.

Yeah your right. I respect them all, I just don't believe or follow any of them.

09/10/2012

On the other hand, you have different fingers

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

jenrob said:
I respect them all..

No you don't.
You just openly expressed your disapproval of the facilitation of Muslim prayer rooms at Universities, and dismissed it as "special treatment"...

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 482

jenrob

Pilkingbod said:

jenrob said:
I respect them all..

No you don't.
You just openly expressed your disapproval of the facilitation of Muslim prayer rooms at Universities, and dismissed it as "special treatment"...

Butthurt much? They got you too.. :E

I Don't disaprove of their prayer rooms, Just saying where are all the other religions prayer rooms? (evil)

09/10/2012

On the other hand, you have different fingers

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

jenrob said:
Butthurt much? They got you too..
I Don't disaprove of their prayer rooms, Just saying where are all the other religions prayer rooms?

Calling you out on bullshit does not make me butthurt.

And all other religions obviously don't require prayer rooms. Would you like one?

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 482

jenrob

just do me a favour and read this.

www.protectionist.net/...

09/10/2012

On the other hand, you have different fingers

Kudos: 207,037

M@ndyz

I'm sorry but the fact my kids don't sing Christmas songs at school cause it might offend someone pisses me off..

09/10/2012

Add me on steam........... bootie [mmgn] Or raptr.......... bootie101 Or wiiu. actually don't add me on wiiu im never on it :p

Kudos: 482

jenrob

Pilkingbod said:

jenrob said:
Butthurt much? They got you too..
I Don't disaprove of their prayer rooms, Just saying where are all the other religions prayer rooms?

Calling you out on bullshit does not make me butthurt.
And all other religions obviously don't require prayer rooms. Would you like one?

So how did you go?
Enjoy the little read of this?

www.protectionist.net/...

09/10/2012

On the other hand, you have different fingers

Kudos: 1,922

The_Boss

What's wrong with prayer rooms. Islam has a unique praying ritual. Even I'm a Christian my Muslim friend taugh me salah (Muslim prayer ritual) salah must be somewhere its quiet, clean and with no disturbance.
My unique Christian religion also requires prayer rooms its not just Muslims. Some Australian are just afraid of change.

09/10/2012

Straight out of Bel Air

Kudos: 1,065

Diagonis83

Aren't we getting a little off topic here ?

09/10/2012

Claptrap "I'm over here, just listen to the sound of my soothing voice"

Kudos: 207,037

M@ndyz

See I see nothing wrong with prayer rooms or any of that, I just miss the Christmas concerts were they actually got to sing Christmas songs.. :(

09/10/2012

Add me on steam........... bootie [mmgn] Or raptr.......... bootie101 Or wiiu. actually don't add me on wiiu im never on it :p

Kudos: 70,383

Kerosanak

BF3 > COD

WOLOLOLOLOLOL

09/10/2012

I'm still kind of a big deal in the Capital Wasteland.

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

jenrob said: just do me a favour and read this.
www.protectionist.net/...

What? This is an opinion piece endorsed by the extremely conservative Australian Protectionist Party, with no references, and it's heavily biased.
Big deal.
It's not a news article...
Hell, looking at the comments at the bottom of the article alone says a lot about their demographic; "multiculturalism is unnatural."
Seriously?

M@ndyz said: See I see nothing wrong with prayer rooms or any of that, I just miss the Christmas concerts were they actually got to sing Christmas songs..

I'm sorry you feel that way, but that's not necessarily the cause of Muslim complaints. Hell, some fundamentalist atheists would be offended by Christmas songs, too.

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 1,922

The_Boss

M@ndyz said: See I see nothing wrong with prayer rooms or any of that, I just miss the Christmas concerts were they actually got to sing Christmas songs..

My Afghan Muslim friend sings Christmas songs. I just look to him and ask why you singing songs about a Christian holiday aren't you a Muslim? He says "yeah but it's not a sin by singing about fat, jolly man wearing a red suit giving presents to kids"
FYI 25th Dec was actually a pagan holiday since that day was so popular in the ancient Romans, since people didn't know Jesus Christ actual day of birth so the Roman Empire want people to embrace the new Christian religion they change the 25th Dec pagan holiday celebrations to celebrate Jesus birth which is called Christmas.

09/10/2012

Straight out of Bel Air

Kudos: 207,037

M@ndyz

Pilkingbod said:
jenrob said: just do me a favour and read this.
www.protectionist.net/...

What? This is an opinion piece endorsed by the extremely conservative Australian Protectionist Party, with no references, and it's heavily biased.
Big deal.
It's not a news article...
Hell, looking at the comments at the bottom of the article alone says a lot about their demographic; "multiculturalism is unnatural."
Seriously?

M@ndyz said: See I see nothing wrong with prayer rooms or any of that, I just miss the Christmas concerts were they actually got to sing Christmas songs..

I'm sorry you feel that way, but that's not necessarily the cause of Muslim complaints. Hell, some fundamentalist atheists would be offended by Christmas songs, too.

You are probably right there actually.. :)

09/10/2012

Add me on steam........... bootie [mmgn] Or raptr.......... bootie101 Or wiiu. actually don't add me on wiiu im never on it :p

Kudos: 1,922

The_Boss

My religion I'm in is a Nontrinitarian form of Christianity which we don't celebrate Christmas, Easter but I'm not offended by Xmas songs or Easter eggs.

09/10/2012

Straight out of Bel Air

Kudos: 156

FireVapour

All I can say is harden the f$#k up muslims. Talk about being bloody pedantic !! And you wonder why muslims get such a bed rap in society !! Because of idiots just like this !!

09/10/2012

Kudos: 207,037

M@ndyz

FireVapour said: All I can say is harden the f$#k up muslims. Talk about being bloody pedantic !! And you wonder why muslims get such a bed rap in society !! Because of idiots just like this !!

but theres good and bad in all cultures :O

09/10/2012

Add me on steam........... bootie [mmgn] Or raptr.......... bootie101 Or wiiu. actually don't add me on wiiu im never on it :p

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

FireVapour said: All I can say is harden the f$#k up muslims. Talk about being bloody pedantic !! And you wonder why muslims get such a bed rap in society !! Because of idiots just like this !!

Exactly... so why are you adressing all Muslims? This is a few people...

Muslims get a bad rep in society because they're over-represented in the media.

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 1,922

The_Boss

FireVapour said: All I can say is harden the f$#k up muslims. Talk about being bloody pedantic !! And you wonder why muslims get such a bed rap in society !! Because of idiots just like this !!

the reason why most people hate Muslims is mostly from fear and envy.

09/10/2012

Straight out of Bel Air

Kudos: 24,455

Marge

When focussing on the specifics I understand why some people would be upset and I don't care about the removal but I have some niggles with the whole situation:

- The maker of the video constantly making threats on behalf of "The Islamic Gaming Community". I didn't really absorb anything he was saying due to the ridiculousness of it. Dividing a gaming community based on religion? I could tell this guy was going to have valid opinions ...

- Out of the whole game, this was the thing that people took a noticeable offense to? For most of the game you are killing the stereotypical [muslim] terrorist, often hearing them chanting things such as "for Allah". These people who made the bathroom painting an issue played through the whole game/s without taking offence to anything else. I think their complaints should be ignored just because of the ridiculous hypocrisy.

The only annoyance I have with this is that Activision answered to the demands of hypocrites.

09/10/2012

Your Mother's Closet

Kudos: 96,262

Skarteh

Pilkingbod said: Muslims get a bad rep in society because they're over-represented in the media.

I'm not going to argue that it sucks so many are tainted by the few, but Muslims get a bad rep in society for a hell of a lot more than the media over-representing them.

Just change this from Muslim to Christian and tell me if you think Infinity Ward would have removed a crucifix sitting over the toilet because some Christians complained. I ****ing doubt it.

09/10/2012

Melbourne, Victoria | Walk with me in hell

Kudos: 1,411

Catflaps

So getting back to the game, I'm with Pilk that if its offensive just take the code out, or change the picture, either they knew what they were doing, and its disrespectful, or they didn't and they just take it out.

I understand they just don't want the text in the bathroom.

Imagine if they all boycott this game... which to tell you the truth I have done since COD 4 cause they are all the same game, who will play as the terrorists? :D ^_^ *BTW sarcasm intended there, I know everybody plays either team*

09/10/2012

West, N.S.W

Kudos: 88,323

Pilkingbod

Skarteh said:
Just change this from Muslim to Christian and tell me if you think Infinity Ward would have removed a crucifix sitting over the toilet because some Christians complained. I ****ing doubt it.

Fundamentalist Christians take extremes just as hard as fundamentalist Muslims. I think it all comes down to media representation.

Christian complaints HAVE to heavily outnumber Muslim complaints by a staggering margain. Why? Because they outnumber them in the U.S, Australia and virtually any Western nation. You never hear about any of them, though.
And hell, if the minimalist complaint of this nature is enough to crack open a can of worms, the standards aren't set very high at all.

09/10/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 75,249

XxmadmanxX

Those Activision/Infinity Ward pricks are so racist how dare they do this.

I will never buy one of their games again those racist pigs.

09/10/2012

A is for Apple, B is for Book, C is for Cookie that's good enough for me.

Kudos: 298,465

Tano

My two cents:

Freedom of religion and freedom of expression are two different things. The freedom to practice a notion of faith of any religion should come part and parcel with any society that also welcomes freedom of expression.

Yes, we should not accept bigotry as a notion of expression: there are limits that as a society we should discourage.

However, imo if you're acknowledging the downsides of something and raising awareness of things that compromise the very freedom, then I think there needs to be a balance between intelligent discourse and simply blanketing something because it offends someone.

For example, I think it's important to acknowledge the ways in which Islamist fundamentalism is in many ways exploiting the uneducated, poor, reliant people of Afghanistan. That's something that needs to be discussed: why is it more prevalent in Islamic states than in Western, Christian states? You can't hide from that. Whether you're a minority or a majority is irrelevant.

Also, to suggest that Christian fundamentalism is as extreme as Islamic fundamentalism is a grossly dysfunctional and naive argument. Islamic fundamentalism quite empathically relies on anti-Western democratic sentiment to thrive. I am not talking about the Muslim FAITH: rather, Islam fundamentalism, which in many cases drives the response we've seen in this case by the publishers.

In this case, IW and Activision have probably made the right move to avoid social tension, but if you fail to acknowledge the dangerousness of removing something so trivial so as to avoid backlash, then I think you're living under a rock.

IMO, a lot of the anti-Islam sentiment is driven by the response that meets it: if you insult the prophet, there is, at the very least, sentiment that uses violence to discourage negative representation, which compromises freedom of expression. There is absolutely no way around that.

This is not about Muslims individually. It's about a faith that unfortuantely has not made a compromise to incorporate Western democratic expression and cynicism. I don't mean that with malice: the reality is that Islam just does not prescribe to a notion of freedom of expression and democracy.

Those sympathising with the Muslim faith need to try and look a little past the painting and how it affects individuals, and try to understand WHY some people respond the way they do, and why the companies have responded in this way. I think it's dangerous that we now respond a certain way out of fear. It's not the right type of response. I know it's a minority that act with violence, but I seriously believe they're the ones that have initiated the response we've seen in this case. They ruin it for the majority, but we need to understand why, rather than just say, "Yes, it is offensive".

I sit here and fail to see how a painting in a toilet in a video game can compromise a Muslim's way of life. It just doesn't. I need someone to explain to me how it does. I grew up a Christian, became an Atheist, and read damaging, vile anti-Christian sentiment all the time. I don't demand that it be removed because I'm offensive, even if I do prescribe to Christian values. I just engage and try to initiate a discourse that initiates, rather than enforces. Because, imo, yes, the minority of Muslim, like those that protested in Sydney, have ENFORCED a sentiment that threatens any negativity of the faith with violence. That's not right.

10/10/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 26,042

BBking

Skarteh said:
Pilkingbod said: Muslims get a bad rep in society because they're over-represented in the media.

I'm not going to argue that it sucks so many are tainted by the few, but Muslims get a bad rep in society for a hell of a lot more than the media over-representing them.
Just change this from Muslim to Christian and tell me if you think Infinity Ward would have removed a crucifix sitting over the toilet because some Christians complained. I ****ing doubt it.

I know what you're saying but I reckon they would. If the complaint was as mild as the one in the video, I think it's appropriate action (by a big company). I think an elaborate explanation should go along with it rather than just a "sorry" though.

Considering the level of severity (very, very low) of both the complaint and the resolution, I can't see the problem.

I totally agree though that "Muslims in the media" aren't to blame but, flip it over again. If it was a Christian, would it get the same attention? Would it even be posted here as news?

BTW, I'm not bagging out MMGN. It's fine to post something so members can comment. But, I'm merely pointing out that in this instance is almost irrelevant to flip it.

11/10/2012

Sydney, NSW. Hills District