Entertainment company Sony has postponed the global release of a much-anticipated video game because of concerns that it may offend Muslims.
Copies of LittleBigPlanet are being recalled from shops worldwide after it emerged that a background music track contained two phrases from the Koran.
Sony says it apologises for any offence caused, and that a modified version is due to be released next month.
The game is expected to be a hit for the PlayStation 3 games console.
A contributor to an online games forum reported the presence of the phrases from the Koran, adding that mixing music and words from Islam's most holy text could be considered deeply offensive by Muslims.
'Sincerely apologise'
A statement on the LittleBigPlanet website said: "We're sure that most of you have heard by now that one of the background music tracks that was licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Koran.
"We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offence this may have caused."
In June 2007, Sony apologised to the Church of England after setting scenes in a violent video game inside Manchester Cathedral. On that occasion the game was not withdrawn.
LittleBigPlanet, created by Guildford-based developer Media Molecule, has been described as a game about making games.
It lets gamers build their own playground levels and then swap them with other players over the PlayStation Network.
Everything that can be seen in LittleBigPlanet can also be created by gamers - from textures, characters, to objects and levels.
Manzoor Moghal, of the Muslim Forum think-tank, explained that words from the Koran should not be set to music because the words are seen to have come directly from God.
He added: "We must compliment Sony for taking decisive action by withdrawing these games immediately, and releasing a version that is not offensive to Muslims."
source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7679151.stm
