According to the head of religious fatwas (edicts) in Saudi Arabia’s Assir governorate, a woman shouldn’t be allowed to drive because “she has a quarter of a brain.”

You heard that right.

In a now-viral video that started making the rounds online late on Wednesday, Sheikh Saad Al Hajari is heard making the statement to a group of people during what appears to be a sermon.

“A woman isn’t equal to a man when it comes to brain power and this is how she was created,” Hajari said.

He then explained that because women have “half a brain,” Saudi Arabia’s Road and Traffic safety authority shouldn’t allow them to drive.

“If a man had half a brain, would they issue him a driving license? They wouldn’t.”

Hajari’s insults didn’t stop here, he went on to explain that when women go shopping, they lose another half of their existing “half brain” and end up with only a quarter.

“Women don’t deserve to drive because they only have a quarter of a brain,” he reiterated.

Hajari’s comments come at a time when the debate about women’s right to drive continues to intensify.

Under the country’s current law, there is no official prohibition on women driving, however, officials have yet to issue driving licenses to women.

Outrage on social media

As soon as a video of Hajari’s talk started to circulate online, it sparked outrage on Saudi Twitter.

Many wondered how a person who calls himself a religious cleric could make such statements, while others called on authorities to take immediate action against him.

People were angered by the statements

فيصل الشهري
@F0AISA7L
#الحجري_النساء_بربع_عقل

وهو بدون عقل ..
3
9:21 AM – Sep 21, 2017 · Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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“He’s brainless”

A few couldn’t even watch the entire video

مَـــها العريفي?
@almha30
#الحجري_النساء_بربع_عقل
اهنئ اللي قدروا يكملون الفيديو على قوة التحمل
2
7:50 AM – Sep 21, 2017
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“I congratulate those who watched the video till the end for being able to handle it.”

“Don’t they feel shame, talking about their own mothers like this!”

Hosam Andijani حسام أندجاني
@hosam_andijani
أما يستحون أن يتحدثون عن أمهاتهم بهذا السوء!
#الحجري_النساء_بربع_عقل
7
8:32 AM – Sep 21, 2017 · Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Many raised this issue
#الحجري_النساء_بربع_عقل
المشكلةُ ببعض رجالِ الدين الذي يُفسِّرون الدينَ على هواهم
ويستخدموَ الدين غطاء لتنفيذ مآربهم الدنيئة?

— ود المطيري (@wad_almtyr) September 21, 2017
“The real problem is that a few of these clerics explain and interpret religion as they please and use our religion as an excuse to do the worst things.”

“A quarter of a brain contributes to the continuity of humanity, and a full brain contributes to its regression”

حماد الشمري
@hammad6761
· Sep 20, 2017
Replying to @hammad6761
#الحجري_النساء_بربع_عقل
الفقه الذكوري كان ولازال يرى المرأة حبائل الشيطان ومصدرالغوايه والفتنه وناقصة عقل ودين
فكريعبث بحياة وكرامة الإنسان

حماد الشمري
@hammad6761
#الحجري_النساء_بربع_عقل#اقاله_مفتي_عسير_ضروره
ربع عقل يساهم في بقاء الإنسانية
وعقل كامل يساهم في تخلف الإنسانية
-” بئس العقول”
View image on TwitterView image on Twitter
97
8:25 PM – Sep 20, 2017
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387 people are talking about this
A few women shared right-on-point responses
ناقصة عقل ..
ناقصة دين ..
ناقصة يد أو رجل أو رأس ..
كل هذا الهراء لن يجدي ؛
فالقيادة قادمة وستذهب هرطقاتكم إلى مزابل التاريخ!!#قيادة_المرأة pic.twitter.com/93NVo8WO1R

— هيلة المشوح?? (@hailahabdulah20) September 20, 2017
“She lacks a brain, she lacks spirituality, she lacks an arm, leg, or even a head… all your bullshit won’t work… women are going to drive sooner or later.”

Many called on the authorities to take action against Hajari
#اقاله_مفتي_عسير_ضروره @kamnapp هذا الشخص يُسيء و يهين المرأة السعودية و يقلل من شأنها نطالب بمحاسبته وان يفصل من منصبه

— Alshehri?? (@707Basoom) September 20, 2017
“This person is offending and denigrating Saudi women, authorities must take action against him and fire him from his position.”