he Kedah fatwa committee today declared the game application Pokemon Go as ‘haram’ (forbidden) for Muslims in the state.

Kedah mufti Sheikh Muhamad Baderudin Ahmad said the decision was made at a meeting at the office of the Kedah mufti in Anak Bukit, near Alor Setar.

He said the meeting concluded that Pokemon Go should be prevented and forbidden because the game brings harm to the players.

“We decided to prevent and forbid it. Forbidding without preventing will not stop the people from playing the game,” he told reporters in Alor Setar.

Sheikh Mohammed Baderudin said the game is a threat to the Muslim faith and feared that moques would be used by players to catch the Pokemon characters.

“We are worried that this game will have a negative impact on children as they may believe Pokemon can make magic while only Allah are capable of things beyond our ability.”

The Kedah fatwa committee would recommend to the Kedah Islamic Affairs Department (Jaik) to include Pokemon Go in Friday sermons and put signs at mosques to make them out of bounds to players.

- Bernama