Ajman: Recently, a terrifying ‘Charlie Charlie Challenge’ took the internet by storm. However, the game that uses two pencils and a yes-no answer board is driving parents crazy about its ill effects on their children.
Youngsters in UAE are trying this challenge, despite warnings from parents, teachers, police and religious scholars.
The game is played with two pencils on a piece of paper in the shape of the cross with the words 'yes' and 'no'. Followed by participants saying "Charlie, Charlie can we play?" If Charlie is there the pencils will move to indicate his answer.
The reason behind the moving pencil lies in the precarious balance. Eventually, the pencil on top loses its balance and turns to either side.
As reported by The National, Arwa Mohammed, a Palestinian Grade 10 student, said she played the game with five friends at school after watching videos on social media. Arwa said she did not believe in ghosts, but was very scared after playing it.
“We switched off the light and air conditioner so the pencil wouldn’t move because of air, and said ‘Charlie, Charlie, are you here?’” she said. “In the beginning, the pencil didn’t move. Then we repeated it three times.
“The pencil moved and we started running and shouting and got scared.
“Then we asked Charlie ‘Will you leave?’, and it moved to ‘no’. My friend started crying.”
In the wake of the rising concern, Ajman Police visited schools to show students the trick. School authorities too are warning the students not to play the game.
The National reported, Abeer Eissa, an Emirati mother of three, said she caught her eldest son playing it at home in front of his siblings, but quickly put an end to it.
“When I saw my five-year-old son saying ‘Charlie, Charlie’, I hit him and prevented him from playing the game. I told all my kids that if I see anyone playing this game, I will hit them.”
Dr Abdullah Al Hammadi, a religious researcher at the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments in Ajman, said that although many Muslims believed in djinns, it was up to parents to discourage their children from playing this game.
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