Saudi Cleric Proposed Putting Burkas on Baby Girls and Everyone Justifiably Flipped the Fuck Out

In a video apparently dating back to last year, a Saudi cleric offered viewers a brief glimpse into his fetid imagination when he called for baby girls to be fully covered. With burkas. To prevent sexual molestation. Go ahead, take a moment to wonder whether or not you’ve wandered into a bad episode of Farscape. Now, the details:

In a TV interview on the Islamic Al-Majd TV, which seems to date back to mid-last year, Sheikh Abdullah Daoud, stressed that wearing the veil will protect baby girls. The Sheikh tried to back his assertion with claims of sexual molestation against babies in the kingdom, quoting unnamed medical and security sources.

Recently picked up on social media, sheikh Daoud’s statement prompted wide condemnation from his fellow Saudis on Twitter. Some tweeps called for the Sheikh to be held accountable because his ruling denigrates Islam and breaches individual privacy.

The good news here is that Daoud’s comments have prompted a pretty strong response from Sheikh Mohammed Al-Jzlana, former judge at the Saudi Board of Grievances, who said that not only was Daoud’s bukas-for-babies comment “denigrating to Islam,” but it also made Islam look really, really bad.

“Burkas for babies”: Saudi cleric’s new fatwa causes controversy [Al Arabiya News]