Saudi Arabia's top cleric has warned against the mixing of the sexes, saying that any attempt to violate a strict separation threatens female chastity and endangers society.

Grand Mufti Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al-Sheik said in his traditional Friday sermon that authorities must stick to Shariah, or Islamic law, by ensuring men and women are separated as much as possible.

Al-Sheik said it is forbidden for women to unveil in front of men, warning that this will destroy the morals and values of society.

The veil refers to the full face covering worn by most women in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

Religious leaders in Saudi Arabia have spoken out against reforms introduced by King Abdullah, including allowing women to join the country's main advisory body and work in female clothes shops.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.