Saudi Arabian Cleric: It's A Sin To Use Biofuels

By Robert Paul Reyes

"An Islamic scholar in Saudi Arabia said using ethanol or other alcohol-derived fuels in vehicles may be a sin for Muslims.

Sheik Mohamed al-Najimi of the Saudi Islamic Jurisprudence Academy told Saudi newspaper Shams that the prophet Mohammed banned alcohol for all uses -- including buying, selling, carrying and manufacturing, Al-Arabiya reported Friday.

Najimi said Muslims who use biofuel, which is made from fermented plants, in their cars are violating the ban since the substance 'is basically made up of alcohol.'" UPI.Com


The ignorance and stupidity of clerics never ceases to amaze me. If the Roman Catholic Church had managed to impede the progress of science our children would be taught that the world is flat and that the sun and the planets revolve around the Earth.

Thanks to Muslim clerics Islamic countries may not explore the use of biofuels, because they don't want to offend the sensibilities of a nomadic warlord who died centuries ago.

Pollution is a world-wide problem, and all the nations must lessen their dependence on fossil fuels. It would be an outrage against common sense and a sin against Mother Earth if Islamic countries continued to pollute at unacceptable levels because of spurious religious beliefs.

If an American televangelist declared that only liberals and devil-worshippers are in favor of biofuels, the minister would be ridiculed by the press. But in an Islamic country like Saudi Arabia if you speak out against the insanity of a cleric you will be imprisoned or executed.