Guantanamo Bay Xbox 360 game is shelved

Jun 7 2009 by Ben Goldby, Sunday Mercury

A CONTROVERSIAL video game based on a former Midland terror suspect’s time in Guantanamo Bay has been shelved.

Moazzam Begg, 41, from Sparkhill, Birmingham, was set to appear as himself in a new Xbox 360 game which he had taken a financial stake in.

But a protest by US soldier’s group Vets for Freedom has led to Scottish software developer T-Enterprise dropping plans to create Rendition: Guantanamo.

Mr Begg was thrown into the US prison camp in 2003, but released without charge in 2005.

Last week, we revealed how the former terror suspect was to feature in the new game, acting as a guide to help a Yemeni inmate escape from the jail.

But the human rights campaigner defended Rendition: Guantanamo and said he was keen to ensure it reflected the brutal reality of life inside the notorious detention centre.

He also pledged to donate any money made to his Cage Prisoners charity.

“I thought the Guantanamo issue might be opened up to people who might not have given it a second thought through this new medium,” Mr Begg said.

“I was concerned that if they are going to do it, then it should be accurate and indicate the reality of life over there.

‘‘If anything happens that might trivialise the experience I would pull out.