Claiming it could trigger aggressive behavior and addiction, MPU chairman Muslim Ibrahim said the council hoped that the central government would block all websites and online games that contain violence or pornography, as well as to watch out for providers of such games.

“We have completed a deep review using [Islamic jurisprudence] and technology and conducted psychological observation. All [MPU members] agree that the game can lead to crime, psychological and moral crisis and create public disruption. So, we declare the game haram,” Muslim said.

PUBG is a battle royale competition that resembles Hunger Games novels and movie series, where 100 players face off with machine guns and assault rifles until only one is left standing. After China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd. introduced a mobile version of the death match that’s free to play, it has become the most popular smartphone game in the world, with enthusiasts from the United States and Russia to Malaysia.

The violent nature of the game has forced governments in Iraq, Nepal and the Indian state of Gujarat to forbid it in their areas.

The Aceh fatwa, issued after the council held a comprehensive plenary meeting from June 17 to 19, declared that playing PUBG or similar games was forbidden in Islam, but the fatwa does not carry any sanctions if anyone breaks it, since the council is not a government institution.

The MPU based the ban on several considerations, including allegations that the game triggered violence, addiction and blasphemed Islamic symbols. The council, however, did not elaborate as to which Islamic symbol was attacked in the online game.

Muslim claimed that people who were highly addicted to playing PUBG could imitate the violent acts. And if the players were drug users, the consequences would be even worse, he said.

Concerns over PUBG in Indonesia emerged in March, when the Communications and Information Ministry was seeking to impose playtime restrictions on the game.

The ministry’s plan followed the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) plan to issue a fatwa declaring PUBG haram. The Islamic organization announced its concern after the shooter game was linked by some people to the recent mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The government and the MUI, however, have yet to form concrete plans for the restriction. But once it is implemented, the playtime restriction will not only apply to PUBG, but also to other games on the market.

The MPU’s fatwa has also yet to officially come into effect, as some people, mostly teenagers, like to gather at kiosks or cafes on weekends to play the video game, using free WiFi.

A group calling itself the alliance to guard the MPU fatwa has urged Aceh citizens to comply with the fatwa and demanded that Aceh executive and legislative offices follow up.

“We also hope that the owners of cafes, restaurants and game stations obey the fatwa and spread it,” alliance head Teuku Farhan said.

The MPU’s fatwa has irked a lot of gamers in the province, who claim that not all games have a bad effect.

Avid gamer Rijal said there were also positive things from playing online games, including a new profession.

“Nowadays, gamers are professionals and make money. They can also become game vendors selling various brands of games,” Rijal said.

He expected policymakers to provide solutions to accommodate the needs of professional gamers, particularly e-sport athletes.

“There have been a lot of e-sport athletes competing at the international level. The Aceh administration should also take that into account,” Rijal said.

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