Andy Robson posted an Anti-Muslim statement on Facebook. Following the recent terror attacks in London, Andy Robson, the Managing Director of Testology, a Quality Assurance contractor that has worked with the likes of Warner Brothers and others, made a post on Facebook (which has since been deleted), stating “The only way we can stop this [terrorist attacks], is to get rid of every terror attacks in London, Andy Robson, the Managing Director of Testology, a Quality Assurance contractor that has worked with the likes of Warner Brothers and others, made a post on Facebook (which has since been deleted), stating “The only way we can stop this [terrorist attacks], is to get rid of every Muslim in the country.”.He stood by this statement when he was initially challenged by it.

Kotaku UK, a website dedicated to gaming culture and more, contacted Mr. Robson, who after initially telling them that “there wasn’t anything that he wanted to comment on,” mentioned that he had Muslim friends “in the industry and outside not the industry,” and denied trying to generalise everyone, despite the fact that he had said that he wanted to “get rid of every Muslim in the country”. When Julian Benson of Kotaku, pointed out the generalised nature of his comment despite Andy’s initial denial of this, Andy retorted by saying “But that’s my personal opinion,” and tried to separate his opinion from that of Testology’s. Robson also refused to comment when asked if had expressed these views to his staff.

Robson did eventually apologise for his comment, in which he mentions people misinterpreting his words, vouching that he is not racist, uses his anger as an excuse to lash out with his views and that, he will no longer post his opinions on his personal social media account in the future.

When Julian Benson of Kotaku, pointed out the generalised nature of his comment despite Andy’s initial denial of this, Andy retorted by saying “But that’s my personal opinion,” and tried to separate his opinion from that of Testology’s.

Robson also refused to comment when asked if had expressed these views to his staff. Robson did eventually apologise for his comment, in which he mentions people misinterpreting his words, vouching that he is not racist, uses his anger as an excuse to lash out with his views and that, he will no longer post his opinions on his personal social media account in the future.

Muslim game developer Rami Ismail, who is the co-founder of the Dutch independent game studio Vlambeer, criticised Robson’s apology and provided his own thoughts on the matter.developer Rami Ismail, who is the co-founder of the Dutch independent game studio Vlambeer, criticised Robson’s apology and provided his own thoughts on the matter.

Members of the game industry respond

In response to Robson’s anti-Muslim post, other members of the game industry responded. Double Eleven, a previous client of Testology’s, condemned Robson’s statement, in a memo sent to all their staff, which they shared on their Twitter:Robson’s statement, in a memo sent to all their staff, which they shared on their Twitter:

Rebellion, the game studio behind the "Sniper Elite" Games series and more, who are also a former client of Testology, also condemned the attacks on Twitter:

Rami Ismail also discussed on Twitter, how he is contacted every month about Islamophobic incidents and sentiments made to people and, that this had now increased:Twitter, how he is contacted every month about Islamophobic incidents and sentiments made to people and, that this had now increased:

Rami also discussed this incident and the topic of Islamophobia with gamesindustry.biz.

In his discussion with them, he mentioned, "It's not common, but it's still far too common. It has a stifling effect on Muslim developers -- and being a visible Muslim in the games industry, I got a number of distraught e-mails about this particular post from British Muslims. It also enforces the feeling of not being welcome in a culture, and I think many game developers will tell you that the games industry is home to them."Muslim in the games industry, I got a number of distraught e-mails about this particular post from British Muslims. It also enforces the feeling of not being welcome in a culture, and I think many game developers will tell you that the games industry is home to them."

He added, "In the end, many of us are a bunch of geeks and nerds and creatives and otherwise outcasts throughout youth, and being outcast again from country and passion just for having bits of a religion in common with a socio-political terrorist movement across the world is discouraging."terrorist movement across the world is discouraging."

Should people be surprised?

Islamophobia or Anti-Muslim sentiments are not new, yet it's still sometimes surprising when you hear it because a lot of us will naturally not assume someone is a xenophobe and yet, this is not the first article ever written on Islamophobia in the games industry.For example, in 2010, a right-wing Austrian political party released a flash game entitledAnti-Muslim sentiments are not new, yet it's still sometimes surprising when you hear it because a lot of us will naturally not assume someone is a xenophobe and yet, this is not the first article ever written on Islamophobia in the games industry.

For example, in 2010, a right-wing Austrian political party released a flash game entitled "Moschee Baba", which translates to "Bye-Bye Mosque,", a game where stop signs appear over mosques, minarets or a muezzin (the person who recites the call to prayer) and you have to click on them to stop their construction. The game's ending also included a poll, asking if things such as burkas, minarets and more should be banned and other things including asking if Austrian Muslims should sign a document, confirming Austrian law over any instructions in regards to law, given in the Qu'ran.

A bad apology

If we go back to some of the things said by Andy, you can see that his mention of having "Muslim friends", reminded me of the old excuse often used by racists and xenophobes that goes "I can't be a racist --I have a black friend", just replace the word "black", with "Muslim" here.

Muslim" here.

In Robson's apology, we also see a deflection of responsibility. He could have just apologised, made and kept a promise to reflect on his beliefs and why what he said caused such offence and do what he can to help put a halt to this kind of hate in and outside of the games industry.

Instead, he mentions others misinterpreting his words and tries to say he was referring to extremist Muslims and yet his post didn't mention anything about extremist Muslims. He just mentioned Muslims and denied any kind of generalisation as mentioned previously in the article. Despite doing just that.I do not trust people like Andy Robson, who when they share their hateful sentiments on social media, are called out on it, to immediately realise the mistakes in their beliefs and change for the better.

extremist Muslims and yet his post didn't mention anything about extremist Muslims. He just mentioned Muslims and denied any kind of generalisation as mentioned previously in the article. Despite doing just that.I do not trust people like Andy Robson, who when they share their hateful sentiments on social media, are called out on it, to immediately realise the mistakes in their beliefs and change for the better.

As Andy himself said, he will just not share his personal opinions on his personal social media account anymore. To use the incident as a way to "lash out," also isn't really an excuse. It's when we are pushed deep to our core by an incident or something in our lives, that we discover who we are and people who use awful incidents such as the recent Terrorist Attack in London as an excuse to hide behind their own vile views, is not defensible and only goes to show how that person really thinks.

terrorist attack in London as an excuse to hide behind their own vile views, is not defensible and only goes to show how that person really thinks.

I applaud those people who called out this bigot's post and give special credit and thanks to Rami Ismail, Julian Benson, James Batchelor and others for reporting and discussing this incident and the issues related to it.

I previously wrote in an article after the attack in Manchester, about how we need to unite to combat hate and try to understand one another and this incident only strengthens that message. message.

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