Saudi Cleric, Former US-Based Diplomat: “Mickey Mouse Should Be Killed” Because He’s “One Of Satan’s Soldiers” (Plus: Saudi Clerics Also Trying To Ban Romance, Laughter, Puppies, Kittens, And Birthday Cake)

Which is weird, because I was pretty sure that Mickey was a Jew-killing Palestinian jihadist. But this guy seems pretty convinced:

Sheikh Muhammad Munajid claimed the mouse is “one of Satan’s soldiers” and makes everything it touches impure. But he warned that depictions of the creature in cartoons such as Tom and Jerry, and Disney’s Mickey Mouse, had taught children that it was in fact loveable. The cleric, a former diplomat at the Saudi embassy in Washington DC, said that under Sharia, both household mice and their cartoon counterparts must be killed… According to a translation prepared by the Middle East Media Research Institute, an American press monitoring service, he said: “The mouse is one of Satan’s soldiers and is steered by him… “Even creatures that are repulsive by nature, by logic, and according to Islamic law have become wonderful and are loved by children. Even mice. “Mickey Mouse has become an awesome character, even though according to Islamic law, Mickey Mouse should be killed in all cases.” Last month Mr Munajid condemned the Beijing Olympics as the “bikini Olympics”, claiming that nothing made Satan happier than seeing females athletes dressed in skimpy outfits.

That last part can’t be right. I’ve checked this over and over again, and women in skimpy outfits are definitively doing the Lord’s work. Nonetheless, the Saudi clerics sure are pissed about all the anti-Islamic programming being broadcast on Saudi TV. Most upsetting to them? Romance and laughter. Also puppies and kittens. And birthday cake. Details after the jump.

Seriously?

The sanctity of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has been spoiled for some in the Arab world by an unholy row over “depraved” TV comedies and serials that have led Saudi clerics to demand the death penalty. Saudi Arabia’s powerful religious establishment has complained for years about what they see as brazen attacks on them and Islam by liberals who dominate Arab media… But television this year has seemingly pushed some clerics to apoplexy with romantic soaps showcasing liberal lifestyles, dramas that fan the flames of ancient tribal hatreds and slapstick comedies that have captured the public’s heart.

So that’s why Saudi men don’t know how to flirt with women. And here I was under the impression that it was because Saudi police successfully banned cute puppies and kittens:

Saudi Arabia’s religious police have announced a ban on selling cats and dogs as pets, or walking them in public in the Saudi capital, because of men using them as a means of making passes at women… the commission has started enforcing an old religious edict. He said the commission was implementing a decision taken a month ago by the acting governor of the capital, Prince Sattam bin Abdul Aziz, adding that it follows an old edict issued by the supreme council of Saudi scholars.

Or it could be because they keep getting arrested and flogged for flirting. Or because birthday cake is out of bounds. Or just a combination of all of these. Still – good to see that the Saudi government’s insane cleric retraining program is going swimmingly.

References:
* More Hamas Mickey Mouse Fun – Video And Comments From Moderate Democrats Added [Video] [MR]
* Mickey Mouse must die, says Saudi Arabian cleric [Telegraph]
* Unholy row as Saudi clerics slam Ramadan TV [Reuters]
* Young Saudis ask, ‘Where is the love?’ [IHT]
* Saudi police crack down on flirting in Mecca — report [AFP]
* Saudis to retrain 40,000 clerics [BBC]
* Saudi religious police ban pet cats and dogs [AFP]
* Don’t let them eat cake, Saudi cleric says [AP]