Sheikh Muhammad Munajid, claimed the mouse is “one of Satan’s soldiers” and makes everything it touches impure, The Telegraph reports. [6] But he warned that like all devilish creatures 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. [1] [6] 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. Mr Munajid was asked to give Islam’s teaching on mice during a religious affairs program broadcast on al-Majd TV, an Arab television network.
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. […] the mouse is impure.” [1] [6] Following is an excerpt from the religious program featuring Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Munajid, which aired on Al-Majd TV on August 27, 2008:
Muhammad Al-Munajid: What is the position of Islamic law with regard to mice? The Shari’a refers to the mouse as “little corrupter,” and says it is permissible to kill it in all cases. It says that mice set fire to the house, and are steered by Satan. The mouse is one of Satan’s soldiers and is steered by him. If a mouse falls into a pot of food – if the food is solid, you should chuck out the mouse and the food touching it, and if it is liquid – you should chuck out the whole thing. Because the mouse is i-m-p-u-r-e! [1] [2] [6]
According to Islamic law, the mouse is a repulsive, corrupting creature. How do you think children view mice
today – after Tom and Jerry? 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. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
But this may be easier said than done. Mickey has survived countless attempts on his life since he first appeared in the cartoon Steamboat Willie in 1928 while Jerry has been fending off Tom’s murderous attacks since 1940. [4] Mr Munajid is also the imam who condemned the Beijing Olympics as the “bikini Olympics”, claiming that nothing made Satan happier than seeing females athletes dressed in skimpy outfits.[1] [2] [3] [4] [6] Mickey may have survived the battle with the brooms in “Fantasia,” but now Mickey Mouse has to contend with Islam. [7]
Aired on Al-Majd TV (Saudi Arabia) – August 27, 2008 – 00:01:22.
On the first video, Palestinian Pundit comments:
A Saudi cleric has condemned Disney’s lovable cartoon mouse. What could the big-eared rodent possibly have done to offend? [9] [12]
And from Morocco, Myrtus is lost for words and exclaims:
Gasp! Stupidity beyond belief! [9] [11]
And on the outcry from Western media, Sultan Al Jumeri, from Saudi Arabia, writes: