MIDDLE EAST: Virtual Muslim world bans drinking, sex
Ever wanted to experience life in the Muslim world but didn't have enough money to fly to Cairo?
The first-ever virtual version of the Muslim world was recently launched online.
Muxlim Pal lets you adopt an animated avatar and interact with others online in a virtual world governed by the rules of Islam.
You can shop, socialize in a beach cafe and, of course, pray at a mosque.
Aimed at Muslims and non-Muslims, the website aims to foster understanding and communication between East and West.
According to Finnish-based company Muxlim.com, the website hopes to bring Muslim communities worldwide closer, especially Muslim youth in the West.
"We are not a religious site, we are a site that is focused on the lifestyle," said Mohamed El-Fatatry, founder of Muxlim.com, in an interview with the BBC.
"This is for anyone who is remotely interested in the Muslim culture and the Muslim lifestyle," he added.
In another interview with Agence France-Presse, El-Fatatry estimated that 98% of Muxlim.co's users are Muslims. He said the site had about 1.5 million visitors a month from 190 countries, half from the United States.
The virtual Muslim world bans drugs, drinking, sexual behavior, killing and other crimes, making it different from such popular virtual worlds as Second Life and The Sims.
Such limitations ensure that the game does not breach Muslim restrictions and appeals to all age groups. "We are not trying to segregate anybody; we are trying to build a platform for Muslims to have a voice and dialogue with others," El-Fatary told AFP.
Joining the site is free of charge and registered users get some virtual money at the start to pamper their character with clothes, food and even decorations for their rooms. More services and premier features can be acquired as users swap real cash for virtual money.
Developers hope to add several other features by the time of the virtual world's full launch later this year.
-- Khaled Hijab and Raed Rafei in Beirut
Photo: From the website of Muxlim Pal.
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How do we not know that the muslim will use this program for their advantage to start terrorism or to recruit more terrorists.
I think this program is a bad idea.
Posted by: ? | February 16, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Last week In Saudi Arabia, the ultimate "reality-based" muslim community, a poor, pregnant woman was arrested and sentenced to 100 lashings after being gang-raped because the Saudi muslim courts viewed her "fornication" with her rapists as against Islamic law.
Will users of Muxlim.com be able to participate in virtual floggings of women accused of "fornication"?
I know this post will probably never make it on this site without evidence of this event, so here is the actual article from the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1141267/Saudi-judge-sentences-pregnant-gang-rape-victim-100-lashes-committing-adultery.html
Charles Weatherly,
Manchester UK
Posted by: Charles Weatherly | February 15, 2009 at 07:31 PM
Since most of world younger population wrongly learn and imitate TV and movie actors behaviors by observing their unreal fancy and pretty lifestyle, it's good to have some realistic programs, much like public and educational programs, a virtual Vatican world will be promoting their values too.
Posted by: Javad | February 14, 2009 at 02:34 PM
This is cool
Posted by: Nisa | February 14, 2009 at 02:13 PM