Document Type : Scientific-Research Article

Authors

• Ali Razizadeh ¹
• Abolfazl Mosahebi ²

¹ Assistant Professor in Department of Media Arts, Religion and Media Faculty, IRIB University, Qom, Iran

² PhD-level Seminary Student in Islamic Studies in English, International Institute for Islamic Studies, Qom, Iran

Abstract

In recent years, video games have emerged as influential media platforms in cultural representation and in shaping public perception. One critical dimension of this representation is the portrayal of religion and religious identities through digital narratives. This study investigates the mechanisms of Islamophobic representation in the video game Assassin’s Creed Mirage and explores how the game, by drawing on historical narratives, Islamic symbols, and culturally embedded settings, contributes to the reproduction of a distorted image of Islam and Muslims. The primary objective of the study is to analyze the game’s semantic, thematic, and semiotic components and to offer strategic cultural countermeasures for addressing such representations in Islamic societies. This research adopts a qualitative and interpretive approach, utilizing a combination of thematic analysis and cultural semiotics. Data were collected through purposive and theoretical sampling from the game's scenes, dialogues, narrative structure, and visual elements. Findings indicate that the game operates through two principal strategies: cognitive distortion and emotional-affective provocation. It redefines core Islamic concepts, such as jihad, justice, worship, and martyrdom, within a context marked by violence and sectarianism. Moreover, by blending Islamic symbols with scenes of threat and terror, the game reinforces subconscious associations of fear and distrust toward Islam. In response, the study proposes targeted solutions such as enhancing critical media literacy, developing indigenous content, and fostering cultural synergy among Muslim societies to counter the ideological spread of digital Islamophobia.

Keywords

• Representation of Islam
• Media Islamophobia
• Interactive Media
• Video Games
• Cultural Semiotics
• Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Main Subjects

• game