An edict calling Asir’s traditional cultural dances “haram” has sparked a heated debate on social media.

Saad Al-Hajri, Asir’s mufti, has issued a fatwa banning some traditional dances of the region. This fatwa was issued during a religious lecture in Mahayel Asir.

Responding to a students’ question, the mufti said: “If people who perform traditional dances imitate women, this dance should be haram.”

Al-Dammah, Al-Aradah and the southern Al-Khatwa are traditional dances performed at official events in the Asir region and many artists who perform them pretend to be women.

The edict has been criticized in the region and has sparked a heated debate on social networking websites.

Mohammed Al-Nujaim, a professor at the Superior Institute of Justice, told Arab News: “All fatwas should be issued in light of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah by senior scholars. And one should avoid weird fatwas from unknown scholars.”

The Council of Senior Scholars had previously warned against issuing fatwas outside its purview.

A previous royal decree delivered to Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh had said: “As part of our religious and national duty, we want you to ensure that fatwas are only issued by members of the Council of Senior Scholars and other permitted people.”

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