CAIRO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian governor has decreed that images of Disney figures on the walls of kindergartens be removed, local media reported.
Alaa Abdul-Halim Mohammed Marzouk, governor of Egypt's Qalyubia, north of Cairo, said pictures of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck need to be replaced by images of famous Egyptians and military martyrs whom children will look up to as role models.
"These characters are U.S.-made, whereas we have our own noble figures who can deepen children's patriotism and love of country," he told local media.
A Ministry of Education official said a committee would see how the governor's orders should be implemented across the whole governorate, according to local media Youm7.
The order triggered mixed reactions on social media. While some lauded the emphasis on nurturing a sense of nation among children, others thought the governor was overplaying the significance of cartoon figures.
"Nothing wrong with that, although I think imposing images of military martyrs on kindergarten children is a bit early," a Facebook user said.
"Children must be children -- play, dream and love. He has no right to take the innocence of the children," another said.
The Disney figure of Mickey Mouse will be celebrating its 90th anniversary in November. Earlier, it posed for photos in front of Egypt's Giza pyramids during Disney's visit to the country as part of the Disney Life show.
