The microblogging site Twitter popular among both men and women in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia is nothing more than "a source of lies" and evil, the kingdom's top Muslim cleric said.
"If it were used correctly, it could be of real benefit, but unfortunately it's exploited for trivial matters," Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh said on his "Fatwa" television show broadcast late Monday.
Twitter is "the source of all evil and devastation," the mufti said.
"People are rushing to it thinking it's a source of credible information but it's a source of lies and falsehood."
Saudi Arabia adopts a strict version of Sunni Islam that influences all aspects of life in the Gulf kingdom.
Twitter is highly popular with Saudis and has stirred broad debate on subjects ranging from religion to politics in a country where such public discussion had been considered at best unseemly and sometimes illegal.
Scores of Saudis have been arrested over the years for posting content critical of the Wahhabi regime on Twitter and other social media outlets.
Twitter is "the source of all evil and devastation," the mufti said.
"People are rushing to it thinking it's a source of credible information but it's a source of lies and falsehood."
Saudi Arabia adopts a strict version of Sunni Islam that influences all aspects of life in the Gulf kingdom.
Twitter is highly popular with Saudis and has stirred broad debate on subjects ranging from religion to politics in a country where such public discussion had been considered at best unseemly and sometimes illegal.
Scores of Saudis have been arrested over the years for posting content critical of the Wahhabi regime on Twitter and other social media outlets.
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