CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Saudi imam (Islamic cleric) Sheikh Muhammad al-Munajid says that according to Islam's sharia law, Mickey Mouse should be killed.

"Mickey Mouse has become an awesome character, even though according to Islamic law, Mickey Mouse should be killed in all cases," al-Munajid said in an interview on al-Majd television.

The Saudi sheikh, who served as a diplomat in his nation's embassy in Washington, does not appreciate cartoons that depict mice as lovable characters.

According to Islamic law, mice are "repulsive" and "corrupting" creatures, which children see as sweet because of cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse and Jerry of Tom and Jerry fame.

"The sharia 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," the imam said.

Al-Munajid also called the Beijing Olympics "satanic."

Source: YNet news