After a Kuwaiti parliamentarian proposed a ban on the construction of new churches in that country, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia said it also is necessary to destroy all of the existing churches in the region.

Last month, Kuwait’s Osama al-Munawer called for a ban on the construction of new churches, but so far the initiative has not been passed into law.

While addressing a Kuwaiti NGO delegation, the Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah was asked to clarify what Islamic law says on the matter.

The Grand Mufti, who is the highest official of religious law in Saudi Arabia, as well as the head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Scholars, cited the Prophet Mohammed, who said the Arabian Peninsula is to exist under only one religion.

The Sheikh went on to conclude that it was therefore necessary for Kuwait, being a part of the Arabian Peninsula, to destroy all churches on its territory.

In February, al-Munawar announced on Twitter that he was planning to submit legislation that would remove all churches in the country. He has since clarified that existing churches should remain, while the construction of new non-Islamic places of worship would be banned.