As Editor of Bikyamasr.com, I am disappointed that I did not catch and hold this piece. The “Islamic cleric bans women from touching cucumbers, bananas for sexual resemblance,” article should not have run when it did. Arguably, it should not have been run at all. We should not have published about an “unnamed sheikh” in an unnamed European country unless we were able to garner more information on the issue, both on the sheikh himself and the news website the information was gathered from, independently.

We realize that as a growing news organization with a growing reputation and readership, we have an increased responsibility to not only verify our own material at the highest levels, but further investigate the quotes and articles of other news organizations before referencing their work.

This is our error. We apologize for the poor judgment on the matter. It is inexcusable. While the exact quote reported by Assawsana.com may well have been exactly what it was reported to be by that website, without a name and location behind this person and comment, it is difficult to find the information credible.

We recognize our pitfalls and their repercussions. The fact that this story was quoted by a large number of news organizations across the globe shows that our error in judgment can have serious, detrimental effects. For this, we would like to apologize to our readers for the inadequate editorial judgment I, as Editor and Founder, made in this instance.
http://bikyamasr.com/50613/editorial-on-bikyamasr-coms-coverage-of-the-cucumber-sheikh/

Next time we see these vegetables/fruits, invariably we will think of the male reproducutive organ,  A classic example of back firing. All the best to the Mullahs

What about moolis?

Anwaar doesnt like bananas !!

Bewildering crazy fellows!

Most intersting fatwa was about avidig family planning. Pakistan is now big hungry nation. Now no kashmiri wants to go to pakistan but all the muslim wants to make India like pakistan populous and hungry by rejecting birth control.

I must have clisked once too many. Sorry folks.

Hopefully, in another 10 years there will be no virgins in Saudi Arabia too. That's good.

No 72 Virgins lined up ready and willing to serve the prospective suicide bomber.

That means no more suicide attacks anywhere in the world unless some maulvi comes up with some other brilliant enticement for those "retarded" sucide bombers.

Hopefully, in another 10 years there will be no virgins in Saudi Arabia too. That's good.

No 72 Virgins lined up ready and willing to serve the prospective suicide bomber.

That means no more suicide attacks anywhere in the world unless some maulvi comes up with some other brilliant enticement for those "retarded" sucide bombers.

Lopamudra,

>> 'Retarded' is a strong word in this context, when it seems to be very much probable.

Silly fatwas are not uncommon. But something that is so obviously made up should not fool us. That's the point I wanted to make although i know that none of those who commented on it is really retarded.

 Doesn't matter if the fatwa is true or a hoax or a prank. It is a good joke and we all had a good laugh and we must now move on. Thank God that there is no fatwa (again either true or a hoax) that men should not handle melons while shopping.

>> It is a hoax! Only retards would consider the banana/cucumber fatwa to be serious. It is obviously a prank!

Were you born stupid or has this obtuseness worsened with time? What makes a banana/cucumber fatwa a prank, and a birthday fatwa a serious discourse on religion by a trained Maulvi? How is one to assume the former is a prank, if the latter is not?

Anwaar,

'Retarded' is a strong word in this context, when it seems to be very much probable.

Sangeetha,

I still think its prank, or else, there would have been flooding news items from our ever over  proactive media on who where when and so on The absence of follow up stories strengthens the conviction that its prank.

Are we already headed for the stone age? It would be appropriate muslim justice to collect all the cucumbers and bannans in the world and shove them up this sheikh,s you know where.That should satisfy him more than the views he has expressed

Sangeetha,

>> Calling them something as "retarded" is unwarranted

Just look at the things I have been called!

Maulana should be given one Glass of Banana and Cucumber Juice daily to reinvigorate him .

Anwaar,

 I'm not interested in prolonging this discussion. But plz bear in mind that its not those whom you dislike are the ones who are posting here. Calling them something as "retarded" is unwarranted

I could not have meant you, because my comment was posted before yours

I know that, but by the same logic, it is immediately after Indrani's and Gajanan's posts. What does that say? This is what I was mentioning.
Anyway, I'll keep myself off from such subjects. Why should I bother ? 

Lopamudra,

Thats why original-source link   :)    -- no sarcasm in this smiley plz !

Sangeetha,

>> why cant there be a clarification on why this couldnt have been the case.

My Comment No: 4: -  "This "unnamed sheikh" seems to be a prankster mocking the fatwa-prone mullahs. I must say however that those fatwa-mongering mullahs do deserve to be mocked."

My Comment No: 29 on December 7 (when someone posted the same item in a different discussion) -  "The cleric is disoriented! He thinks today is April 1st."

People may not be retarded, but when they do not have their thinking caps on, they may appear to be retarded. In any case I could not have meant you, because my comment was posted before yours.

 Banana fatwa seems to be prank to me as well, but if there can be fatwa agaist Seductive eyes, we should expect Banana fatwa any day. 

That's why I am here

You're here to call your co-bloggers retards when they said nothing agaisnt you ? After going through the list of moronic fatwas being issued day after day, why cant this be so ? Instead of making stupid remarks, why cant there be a clarification on why this couldnt have been the case.

Heres the Bikya-masr's news item. Theres a link to el-Sawsana (stupid spelling confusion) news in the same newsitem of Bkyamasr. Here I've pasted it. Use Google translator. And we've an apologist, Sheila Musaji, from US writing she couldnt find the originalsource. Actually Bikya-masr provided a correction and link was given to the arabic article. Apparently, Our heroine from american-muslim site seems not to have taken cognisance of it

"Retards" we are ..... ! :-O   

>> " Its not that obvious to us ... mere mortal "retards".

That's why I am here :-)

 Only retards would consider the banana/cucumber fatwa to be serious

Whoa, Cool ! Its not that obvious to us ... mere mortal "retards"    :)

Women shouldnt wear highheels bcoz they seduce men
women with "seductive" eyes should cover them
women shouldntdrive cars bcoz it makes them lose virginity

And now bananas & cucumebrs are forbidden fruits !  
Never had these kind of thoughts ! SIGH ...

Only retards would consider the banana/cucumber fatwa to be serious. It is obviously a prank.

 Why don't the clerics declare a fatwa on the existence of women in their society? 

 Men should not cherry pick a mango. Can we expect this fruity fatwa. ? 

The un-named Sheikh has too much time. He ought to be spending much more of his time then in the service of the lord, instead it appears his thoughts are mostly about sex and women. Looking to control it ONLY and ONLY via the women - since boys will be boys (especially since he is a boy to begin with and there are always non-islamic women in his service for his fun and games).

What about the Eggplant (Aubergine)? Ban it for the men, as it might give them visions of women's anatomy. There goes the Baba Ganouj, a great middle eastern dish.
 

"....edict prohibiting Muslim women from wearing high heels in public."

But they can wear them in private. Thank God for that!

Such scatter brains have made the Muslims an object of ridicule 

Preacher Mustafa al-Adawi issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslim women from wearing high heels because they are a source of seduction for men.

One more Fatwa for women

muslims need renaissance to get rid of osama and this kind of jokers.their community is passing through worst phase.

Weird Religion and Bizarre Fatwaas !!

And the media will use this mullah to PROVE HOW VICTIMISED THE FEMALE RACE IS!

He also added carrots and zucchini to the list of forbidden foods for women, cause these fruits and vegetables “resemble the male penis” and hence could arouse women or “make them think of sex.” Answering another question about what to do if women in the family like these foods, the sheikh advised the interviewer to take the food and cut it for them in a hidden place so they cannot see it.
What if his wife thinking of his 'penis whilst handling a banana or cucumber is also thinking of slicing it with a knife!!. Ha..Ha..Ha 

This "unnamed sheikh" seems to be a prankster mocking the fatwa-prone mullahs. I must say however that those fatwa-mongering mullahs do deserve to be mocked.

If the women have any sense of dignity, they should shove some bananas and cucumbers up this Mullah's sorry a$$...

A little slicing of dogma would be no bad thing.

I hope anwaar replies here because every time he comes running to defend congress.


What else could be banned?

If the women have any sense of dignity, they should shove some bananas and cucumbers up this Mullah's sorry a$$...

Weird Religion and Bizarre Fatwaas !!

This "unnamed sheikh" seems to be a prankster mocking the fatwa-prone mullahs. I must say however that those fatwa-mongering mullahs do deserve to be mocked.

I hope anwaar replies here because every time he comes running to defend congress.


What else could be banned?

He also added carrots and zucchini to the list of forbidden foods for women, cause these fruits and vegetables “resemble the male penis” and hence could arouse women or “make them think of sex.” Answering another question about what to do if women in the family like these foods, the sheikh advised the interviewer to take the food and cut it for them in a hidden place so they cannot see it.
What if his wife thinking of his 'penis whilst handling a banana or cucumber is also thinking of slicing it with a knife!!. Ha..Ha..Ha 

 Why don't the clerics declare a fatwa on the existence of women in their society? 

muslims need renaissance to get rid of osama and this kind of jokers.their community is passing through worst phase.

 Men should not cherry pick a mango. Can we expect this fruity fatwa. ? 

Preacher Mustafa al-Adawi issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslim women from wearing high heels because they are a source of seduction for men.

One more Fatwa for women

 Only retards would consider the banana/cucumber fatwa to be serious

Whoa, Cool ! Its not that obvious to us ... mere mortal "retards"    :)

Such scatter brains have made the Muslims an object of ridicule 

Anwaar doesnt like bananas !!

>> It is a hoax! Only retards would consider the banana/cucumber fatwa to be serious. It is obviously a prank!

Were you born stupid or has this obtuseness worsened with time? What makes a banana/cucumber fatwa a prank, and a birthday fatwa a serious discourse on religion by a trained Maulvi? How is one to assume the former is a prank, if the latter is not?

"....edict prohibiting Muslim women from wearing high heels in public."

But they can wear them in private. Thank God for that!

A little slicing of dogma would be no bad thing.

That's why I am here

You're here to call your co-bloggers retards when they said nothing agaisnt you ? After going through the list of moronic fatwas being issued day after day, why cant this be so ? Instead of making stupid remarks, why cant there be a clarification on why this couldnt have been the case.

Heres the Bikya-masr's news item. Theres a link to el-Sawsana (stupid spelling confusion) news in the same newsitem of Bkyamasr. Here I've pasted it. Use Google translator. And we've an apologist, Sheila Musaji, from US writing she couldnt find the originalsource. Actually Bikya-masr provided a correction and link was given to the arabic article. Apparently, Our heroine from american-muslim site seems not to have taken cognisance of it

"Retards" we are ..... ! :-O   

Women shouldnt wear highheels bcoz they seduce men
women with "seductive" eyes should cover them
women shouldntdrive cars bcoz it makes them lose virginity

And now bananas & cucumebrs are forbidden fruits !  
Never had these kind of thoughts ! SIGH ...

The un-named Sheikh has too much time. He ought to be spending much more of his time then in the service of the lord, instead it appears his thoughts are mostly about sex and women. Looking to control it ONLY and ONLY via the women - since boys will be boys (especially since he is a boy to begin with and there are always non-islamic women in his service for his fun and games).

What about the Eggplant (Aubergine)? Ban it for the men, as it might give them visions of women's anatomy. There goes the Baba Ganouj, a great middle eastern dish.
 

Hopefully, in another 10 years there will be no virgins in Saudi Arabia too. That's good.

No 72 Virgins lined up ready and willing to serve the prospective suicide bomber.

That means no more suicide attacks anywhere in the world unless some maulvi comes up with some other brilliant enticement for those "retarded" sucide bombers.

 Doesn't matter if the fatwa is true or a hoax or a prank. It is a good joke and we all had a good laugh and we must now move on. Thank God that there is no fatwa (again either true or a hoax) that men should not handle melons while shopping.

 Banana fatwa seems to be prank to me as well, but if there can be fatwa agaist Seductive eyes, we should expect Banana fatwa any day. 

Next time we see these vegetables/fruits, invariably we will think of the male reproducutive organ,  A classic example of back firing. All the best to the Mullahs

What about moolis?

Most intersting fatwa was about avidig family planning. Pakistan is now big hungry nation. Now no kashmiri wants to go to pakistan but all the muslim wants to make India like pakistan populous and hungry by rejecting birth control.

Are we already headed for the stone age? It would be appropriate muslim justice to collect all the cucumbers and bannans in the world and shove them up this sheikh,s you know where.That should satisfy him more than the views he has expressed

Only retards would consider the banana/cucumber fatwa to be serious. It is obviously a prank.

And the media will use this mullah to PROVE HOW VICTIMISED THE FEMALE RACE IS!

And the media will use this mullah to PROVE HOW VICTIMISED THE FEMALE RACE IS!

Only retards would consider the banana/cucumber fatwa to be serious. It is obviously a prank.

 Banana fatwa seems to be prank to me as well, but if there can be fatwa agaist Seductive eyes, we should expect Banana fatwa any day. 

>> " Its not that obvious to us ... mere mortal "retards".

That's why I am here :-)

Lopamudra,

>> 'Retarded' is a strong word in this context, when it seems to be very much probable.

Silly fatwas are not uncommon. But something that is so obviously made up should not fool us. That's the point I wanted to make although i know that none of those who commented on it is really retarded.

Sangeetha,

>> Calling them something as "retarded" is unwarranted

Just look at the things I have been called!

 Why don't the clerics declare a fatwa on the existence of women in their society? 

I hope anwaar replies here because every time he comes running to defend congress.


What else could be banned?