"Such opinions must be totally rejected. The issuers of such fatwas must be stopped and re-educated," said Dr. Isa Al-Ghaith, a judge at Riyadh Summary Court.
Al-Ghaith said this while commenting on the remarks of Yousuf Al-Ahmed, a professor of Islamic jurisprudence at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Al-Watan newspaper reported.
Al-Ahmed told a TV channel that mixing between men and women during Tawaf around the Kaaba was against Islam, and that the expansions carried out during the Ottoman era and the rule of King Saud should be demolished, adding that it would create more room for the increasing number of pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah.
"I could not believe this when I was told about it. I did not expect matters to reach this level. This means that we have reached a dangerous stage that has not even been anticipated by the majority of pessimists," said Al-Ghaith, while calling for urgent steps to protect the religion and the Kingdom from this dangerous thought.
He described such remarks as "irresponsible" and asked the concerned authorities to take stern action against preachers such as Al-Ahmed before it is too late.
Al-Ahmed made the remarks while talking to the satellite TV channel Bidayah (beginning). He said the mixing of men and women during Tawaf is haram (unlawful under Islam). “This engineering solution will give women privacy and keep them away from cameras that film them and show them on satellite channels. Is it not the right of women not to battle with men during tawaf? Is it not their right to have one or two floors to perform tawaf and what is wrong in reconstructing the mosque for this purpose?” he asked.
Al-Ghaith said it is unfair and unwise to keep quiet about such remarks. "Issuers of such fatwas must be put right in their place. They must be re-educated and re-guided," he said.
