Saudi cleric's fatwa condemning snowmen as un-Islamic sparks online debate

A fatwa issued by a cleric that sought to ban snowmen in Saudi Arabia has reportedly sparked widespread controversy online, drawing both admiration and condemnation.

As Saudis in the northern areas built snow camels to pay a tribute to the local culture, religious scholar Mohammad Saleh Al Minjed, condemned the act by saying that building snowmen or snow animals was not acceptable in Islam, reported GulfNews.

The fatwa issued by him said that the religion prohibited building replica of an animal, even for fun or recreation. Only lifeless things such as ships, fruit and buildings could be imitated, it said.

The fatwa was widely circulated on the social networks and triggered a heated debate online. Those who supported the fatwa said that building snowmen was a crude imitation of the West.