Tourism Minister to Ban Fortnite After Religious Portrayal Controversy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno in his latest Instagram post plans on banning popular online game Fortnite, believing the game goes against religious values. 

“The game Fortnite goes against the nation’s values, especially religious values. This may spark a disrespect attitude among religious communities and encourage violence,” the minister wrote in his social media post on Monday, July 5. 

He recalled officially instructing his ministry to conduct a study on his suggestion and to immediately produce a ban on the first person shooter game released by Epic Games in 2017. Sandiaga also warned game developers to be more careful in designing a game with a massive audience. 

Sandiaga Uno insisted that the gaming industry should open opportunities to provide new jobs while not trying to destroy values held dear by other countries.

His statement came after Fortnite was slammed by a number of experts, including Al Azhar International Center director, citing Arabnews on July 2, who criticized the negative portrayal of Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba, in the game.

This was clarified by Fortnite developers, who claimed that the structure that mimicked the Kaaba was a modification by users which was enabled in the game’s creative mode. 

Read: Emergency PPKM: Sandiaga Uno Posptones Work from Bali Program

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