> Mickey Mouse Must Die
> By George Conger
> Religious Intelligence | Monday, September 15, 2008
>
> http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=5468D8AB-9943-44E6-9B2B-82E...
>
> Mickey Mouse must die for the good of Islam, a leading Saudi cleric said
> last month in a broadcast on al-Majd TV.
>
> On Aug 27 Sheikh Muhammad Al-Munajid told viewers of a religious affairs
> programme that mice were agents of Satan and that Sharia law called for the
> extermination of all mice: from the common house mouse (Mus musculus) to
> cartoon mouse (Mickey Mouse).
>
> A former diplomat attached to the Islamic Affairs Department at the Saudi
> embassy Washington, al-Munajid appears regularly on Saudi television to
> discuss religious and ethical topics.
>
> On Aug 10 he denounced the Beijing Olympics as the "bikini Olympics," saying
> the immodest dress of women athletes was "satanic" and earlier issued a
> fatwa, or religious edict, against women's participation in the Olympics as
> the games were also "satanic".
>
> Al-Munajid's aversion to sports is not new. In 2005 he denounced soccer,
> saying the short pants worn by players "reveal nakedness." He called for a
> ban on women's sports and public exercise as to do so would require them to
> don "tight fitting, short" tunics that were offensive to Muslim decorum.
>
> According to a translation of the broadcast prepared by the Middle East
> Media Research Institute, al-Munajid was asked to state the Islamic legal
> teaching on mice. He responded that mice were called "little corrupters" in
> Sharia and it was permissible to kill them at all times.
>
> "The mouse is one of Satan's soldiers and is steered by him," he explained,
> adding that should a mouse come in contact with food, the food must be
> disposed of as the mouse is an impure creature.
>
> "According to Islamic law, the mouse is a repulsive, corrupting creature,"
> al-Munajid said, adding that he was concerned that popular culture had given
> mice an undeserved positive image.
>
> "How do you think children view mice today - after Tom and Jerry?" he asked.
>
> "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."
>
>