Press Release
A Computer Game Offensive to Islam is an Evidence for the Intellectual Bankruptcy of Secularism
(Translated)

The leader of the Belgian Vlaams Belang party designed a computer game named "Less, Less, Less." It is an initiative he inspired from Geert Wilders' anti-Islamic expressions about the presence of Moroccans Muslims in the Netherlands. The purpose of the game is clear from the game itself, namely the abuse of Islam through a cartoon presentation in which Muslims are hit with sticks and then posters calling for the banning of mosques are distributed.

During an interview, which took place in his office, the leader of the Vlaams Belang party, Philippe de Venter, clearly stated that he assumed on this idea to his conviction that the intellectual dialogue with others is difficult for him. Nevertheless he knows himself better than us, as he admitted that he is unable to stand up to a refined intellectual dialogue with those oppose him in thought, and he is trying through this game to explain to non-Muslims the Vlaams' meaning of Islam and how should Muslims in Belgium be treated.

What is intended by Vlaams Belang is known; namely the abuse of Muslims deliberately, and that it will not back down from attacking Islam and insulting Muslims. The truth is that this is the first time that Vlaams Belang is encouraged to attack Muslims and the building of mosques, and is therefore a scandal and a major threat to this peaceful society. Despite what the leader of this party had done, none of the media commented on the event, and none of the political parties had criticized it or self-distanced from such work.

Some may consider this game laughable, and is absolutely harmless, but if someone looks at it with scrutiny he would come to realize that it is closely linked to the program of a political party that is working against Islam. Not only that, but it calls to confront Muslims through violence. This is evidenced in what Philippe de Venter has said, during the presentation of that game in which Muslims are beaten; that he favored if this beating were permitted in real. His hatred of Islam is known even outside his own country; as he was mentioned by the Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people.

His words had shocked everyone, and were heard by everyone in Belgium; however, they were not condemned by anyone, indicating that the message has been accepted by the political surrounding and the media. Attacks on mosques were repeated in Belgium, and attacks on Muslims in Europe have become a reality, as happened recently with a Muslim woman in the Dutch city of Eindhoven. All of these practices are only the results of the policy of hatred fueled by politicians and the media. Should not these events be sufficient to stop the distortion of Islam and demonizing Muslims? The unjust policy towards Muslims in recent years indicates that the anti-Islamic attitudes are becoming the norm and otherwise is an exception, and the door became open for advocacy of hatred and violence, even if it is through computer games.

A dialogue based on openness and clarity between Islam and Western thought does not exist on the Western agenda, and this is very clear. Any intellectual confrontation is undesirable, due to the fact that secularism does not convince the mind, while Islam addresses the minds and convinces them. Therefore, the only way in which the West is trying to keep its philosophy alive is through misleading people, and using all the possible means to slander what they imagine to be an alternative to their rotten idea, namely Islam.

The West has done so through its known strategy, namely, deviation of Muslims in the country from the correct understanding of Islam through educational centers, and the media that distort the image of Islam in the eyes of non-Muslims, and through those who are intellectually incompetent such as Philippe de Venter who resorted to insults and taunts on Muslims through computer games.

Muslims in Belgium bear the responsibility of dealing with this issue very seriously, regardless of the acute nature of Philippe de Venter and his aides. History has shown that hate speech succeeds when it is ignored, especially in this plagued atmosphere. It is therefore essential that Muslims confront these repeated attacks on Islam and the Islamic identity, and the correct way to deal with it is to provide Islam as an alternative to the failed capitalist civilization, which is the cause of injustice and wars in the world and the inability to deal with the carries of opposing thoughts in the society.

Okay Pala
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in The Netherlands