Former Mecca imam sparks outrage after appearing in Saudi combat games promo
A former imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca has been widely criticised after appearing in a promotional video clip for a combat game event as part of the Riyadh Season 2021.
Adil al-Kalbani appeared in a video posted to Twitter on Thursday by Saudi Arabia's Entertainment Authority chief, Turki Al Sheikh, promoting the "adventurous" 'Combat Field' event, which will run until 16 March next year.
The 62-year-old appeared dressed in military uniform and leading a battle in the video, which has gathered over 5 million views in less than 24 hours.
Many social media users slammed the cleric's participation in the video, calling him a "clown" and accusing him of supporting "corruption".
"I am not against entertainment... but I am against randomness, stupidity and the lack of separation between religion and public life," one twitter user said.
Many others were also taken aback at the former Mecca imam's inclusion in the video.
الله يهديه فضيلة الشيخ سابقا عادل الكلباني خروج عن النص بقوة تعارض وتناقض بين الأمس واليوم pic.twitter.com/wLXc3o1w9i
— أبوعبدالعزيز (@aziz999ksa) November 19, 2021
One twitter user said that "if he had any good in him", he would still be the imam today.
صدقت انسان عادي ، لو فيه خير ما شالوه من الحرم
— سُلّطآن | 苏丹 (@KN_9) November 19, 2021
Some shared conspiracies that the former imam is a client of the Saudi government, who's job it is to "mislead people".
يظنون بأن ظهور #عادل_الكلباني في أعلانات #موسم_الرياض سيشرعن للناس #الترفيه الذي يدعي إليه #تركي_آل_الشيخ ، #محمد_بن_سلمان ، وأن مايدعون إليه من فساد ، ومجون ...وإلخ ، هو مباح ، والدليل على ذلك هو ظهور الكلباني ؛ لايعلمون أن الناس تراه ، أنه من زبانيتهم ، ووظيفته أضلال الناس ‼️ https://t.co/RtutnfRyiv
— أزد الزهراني (@A_z_d96) November 19, 2021
While others held that "righteous" individuals would not "accept such actions in support of the people of falsehood and corruption".
الغريب المضحك المبكي..
— م.عبدالعزيز سالم المالكي ꧁ 🇸🇦 ꧂ (@A_S_M34) November 18, 2021
ما هكذا تورد الإبل ..القدوة والإمام هل نصدق هذا الفعل انت حر بما تفعل لكن ليست افعال الصالحين ان تقبل بمثل الأعمال وكأنك تدعم اهل الباطل ونشر الفساد ..
نسأل الله السلامة والعافية
أعوذ بالله ان اكون من الجاهلين
There were also those who didn't understand the controversy, with one Twitter user saying "[the uproar] made me feel like he committed blasphemy".
Some also defended the cleric, saying: "[He] is promoting a Saudi festival and this is his patriotic duty"
#عادل_الكلباني
— ᔆᴴ🇸🇦 (@shoagah7) November 19, 2021
ما اشوف بالاعلان اي شي مخزي عشان نتكلم عنه بشكل سئ ، مواطن ويروج لمهرجان سعودي وهذا واجبه الوطني 🇸🇦.#عبدالرحمن_السديس قد تعرض للهجوم والانتقاد سابقآ والسبب لانه تكلم عن شتات الدول والشعوب
( لا ينتقد شيوخنا الا اذناب ايرآن ) ف اصمتو pic.twitter.com/yjyEKCC5jv
Others seemed amused by the video's "creativity".
ابداع بكل معنى الابداع خاصه الكلباني 😂😂😂والي الملتقى 😂😂😂😂
— M.B.S (@MBS2038) November 19, 2021
In response to the video shared by Al-Sheikh, Al-Kalbani joked: "Do you think I can go to Hollywood?", to which the authority chair responded he could "do anything".