Saudi diplomat-turned cleric says Mickey Mouse must die

A former Saudi diplomat-turned cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Munajid, has described Walt Disney cartoon character Mickey Mouse as "one of Satan's soldiers" who turns everything around it impure.

The cleric, who worked with the Saudi embassy in Washington D C, 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. 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 impure."

"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," he added.

Munajid also condemned the Beijing Olympics as the "bikini Olympics" last month in protest against the skimpy attire of sportspersons, especially women.