Iranian authorities scramble to stop 'Beat the Arab'
An online game targeting Arabs and hosted on Iranian websites is prompting authorities to take action.
Imagine playing this game: An Arab man wearing the traditional dishdasha is tied to a pole, and players hit him or force him to eat a lizard.
First released in 2009, the redistribution of “Beat the Arab” last month has caused a great deal of controversy. Saudi-owned TV network Al Arabiya’s Persian section reported on a “racist game” being made available on an Iranian website registered with a local domain. In response, Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance issued a statement warning that any website offering or advertising this “divisive” game will be filtered under the country’s Computer Crimes Law.
