Growing debate on Mickey Mouse fatwa

An Egyptian Muslim scholar has called for an end to risible religious edicts after a Saudi cleric said Mickey Mouse was an agent of Satan who should die.

Sheikh Mohamed al-Munajid, a cleric who often appears on Saudi television and who is also a former Saudi diplomat in the United States, has recently said that mice were "agents of Satan" and should be killed. "Sharia (Islamic law) calls for the extermination of all mice. That includes the rodents as well as 'the famous cartoon mouse'," he said. He blamed Mickey Mouse for causing people to become soft on mice. He added: "Children today see mice as loveable and "awesome" because of animated shows like Tom and Jerry, and Disney staple Mickey Mouse.

"Mickey Mouse has become an awesome character, even though according to Islamic law, Mickey Mouse should be killed in all cases," Al-Munajid conveyed.

However, Suad Saleh, a woman preacher who hosts a popular television programme on fatwas (religious edicts), told the English-language daily Egyptian Gazette that Munajid's ruling "tarnishes Islam's image." "An edict should be based on knowledge, logic and reason," she said. "Yes, mice should be killed when seen according to Islam's teachings. But it is illogical to deal with a cartoon character as a live mouse and kill it."

Saleh said Muslim clerics should learn to become more media savvy.