There’s more news on Pokemon GO as an important religious figure in Egypt has damned the app’s existence. Deputy head of Al-Azhar which is the highest Islamic institution in Egypt has slammed Pokemon GO with a Fatwa. A Fatwa is normally a sort of guideline or opinion that helps Islamic practitioners to best follow their religion. In this case, the Fatwa condemns the use and play of Pokemon GO.
The religious figure has stated his opinion on the game, saying that the app would create “drunkards in the streets and on the roads while their eyes are glued to the mobile screens leading them to the location of the imaginary Pokemon in the hope of catching it”. Funnily enough, Pokemon has been hit with a Fatwa before by a Qatar cleric who deemed the concept of evolution anti-Islamic and symbols used to be anti-Islamic propaganda.
Despite the outcry of many religious figures within the Islamic community, various cities who primarily practice Islam such as Dubai and Cairo still utilize the app to encourage players to come to shops and markets. Leaving the effectiveness of the Fatwa to be up in the air when it comes to how the Islamic community perceive it.