POKEMAN BANNED   Author:  27678  Category:(Debate) Created:(3/29/2001 9:27:00 PM) This post has been Viewed (427 times) What is Pokeman about? I heard they were depictions of Japanese demons. Is this true. Are there Freemason, Jewish or Christian symbols involved in this? I homeschool and have not indulged my kids with this new fad. Tell me about it, guys. But first, read this BBC article and tell me what you think. Thursday, 29 March, 2001, 14:54 GMT 15:54 UK Saudis to stamp out Pokemon By the BBC's Caroline Hawley The authorities in Saudi Arabia have said they will confiscate and destroy the popular Japanese children's game Pokemon after a religious ruling against it earlier in the week. The country's highest religious authority, the Mufti, said all Muslims should be aware of the game and prevent their children playing it in order to protect their religion. Since it was launched, Pokemon has become a craze among children around the world, and a multi-billion dollar industry. First came the fatwa against Pokemon, now pledges from the Saudi authorities to act. Gambling A senior official in the Commerce Ministry, Abdul Ali al-Abdul Ali, told a Saudi newspaper that Pokemon products would be taken from the shelves and destroyed. He said Saudi customs officials would also be instructed not to allow Pokemon into the country and that products that use Pokemon as a marketing device would also be withdrawn. It is not the first time concerns have been raised about Pokemon. In the United States, trading in Pokemon cards has been banned in many schools on the grounds that it is distracting children from their studies. 'Zionism' The objections in Saudi Arabia, though, are rather more comprehensive. Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah said it encouraged gambling as well as carrying religious symbols that he said represented Zionism, Christianity and Free Masonry. He said the concept of the Pokemon characters also appeared to be based on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which Islam rejects. Pokemon has denied it uses religious symbols, but the fatwa against it in its biggest market in the Middle East is a blow for it as it tries to expand sales in the region. You can join Unsolved Mysteries and post your own mysteries or interesting stories for the world to read and respond to Click here Scroll all the way down to read replies. Show all stories by   Author:  27678 ( Click here ) Spring is coming