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Saudi Arabia

Saudi Sheik Proposes Controversial "Veil For Babies" Fatwa

TAWASOL,(Saudi Arabia), AL-ARABIYA (UAE), AL MOHEET (Egypt)

Worldcrunch

RIYADH - A Saudi cleric says babies and young girls should be covered from head to toe as a way of protecting them from sexual abuse.

Sheikh Abdullah Mohamed Daoud made his statement on the al-Madj satellite station in October last year, but the video was only recently picked up by social media, reopening the debate in Saudi Arabia about the religious obligation for Muslim women to cover their heads or faces, reports Al Moheet.

Daoud justified his position by saying that hospitals report hundreds of cases of children who have been sexually molested and that the veil would protect children from such crimes.

Sheikh Mohammad al-Jzlana, a former Saudi judge and Islamic cleric told Al-Arabiya that such a fatwa could only come from a pervert. He added that people like Abdullah Daoud were denigrating to Islam and Shariah and made Muslims look bad. He also said that he felt sad he saw families walking around with a veiled baby, describing that as injustice to children.

Jzlana also urged people to ignore unregulated fatwas and explained that only Saudi authorities could rightfully administer religious edicts and appoint those who were entitled to issue them.

The Al Tawasol website, which is accredited by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Communication, called Daoud this week to discuss the issue. The cleric defended himself by saying the buzz around the al-Madj video was an attack by liberals aiming to destroy his respectable image.

During his interview with Al Tawasol, he added that 26% of children between six and 10 in Saudi Arabia were victims of child abuse, and called for what he described as a “necessary prevention.”

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Society

Is Disney's "Wish" Spreading A Subtle Anti-Christian Message To Kids?

Disney's new movie "Wish" is being touted as a new children's blockbuster to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary. But some Christians may see the portrayal of the villain as God-like and turning wishes into prayers as the ultimate denial of the true message of Christmas.

photo of a kid running out of a church

For the Christmas holiday season?

Joseph Holmes

Christians have always had a love-hate relationship with Disney since I can remember. Growing up in the Christian culture of the 1990s and early 2000s, all the Christian parents I knew loved watching Disney movies with their kids – but have always had an uncomfortable relationship with some of its messages. It was due to the constant Disney tropes of “follow your heart philosophy” and “junior knows best” disdain for authority figures like parents that angered so many. Even so, most Christians felt the benefits had outweighed the costs.

That all seems to have changed as of late, with Disney being hit more and more by claims from conservatives (including Christian conservatives) that Disney is pushing more and more radical progressive social agendas, This has coincided with a steep drop at the box office for Disney.

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