Damascus - The Kuwaiti education ministry has banned schools pupils from bringing exercise books and other school items, decorated with photos of soap stars to classes, local media said on Friday.

The move came after checks conducted at shops frequented by school children showed that the majority of exercise books and school bags were emblazoned with images of popular soap stars from a Turkish-made program Noor.

The series, which means light in English, has been branded "anti-Islamic" by opponents for clashing with traditional Islamic society in the program's portrayal of modern married life as an equal partnership.

Muslim clerics have denounced the creators of the film as "soldiers of Satan."

Kuwaiti officials have pledged to confiscate all items with pictures of the show's stars.