Muslim leader rejects Sony's LittleBigPlanet edit

Sony should not have removed controversial background music from its LittleBigPlanet game simply because it contained words from the Koran, an influential Muslim has said.

Instead of condemning the use of two quotations from the Koran in the game’s music, M Zuhdi Jasser, MD, President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, told Edge magazine that his organisation hasn't endorsed "any restriction whatsoever on the release of this videogame".

He said he hoped it wasn’t simply the fear of repercussions that drove Sony to delay the PlayStation 3 title's release, in order that the Koranic quotes be removed before the game went on sale.

Jasser said he didn't approve of the use of "the words of God" from the Koran in games without an educational intent.

However, he added, Muslims concerned about the game's audio content should, instead, have been given the choice not to buy the game. “The free market allows for expression of disfavour by simply not purchasing a game that may be offensive,” he said.

Some early versions of the game still containing the Koranic lines have already found their way onto eBay, where sellers are hopeful that punters will be willing to pay a premium for the un-tweaked version's rarity value.

Ironically, the music used in the game is also freely available on CD and through download services like Apple's iTunes.

A new, edited version of LittleBigPlanet will be available in the UK from 3 November.