Saudi Declares Fatwa Against Manned Mission To Mars

[stromboli]

http://www.news.com.au/technology/scien ... 6750128434

A SAUDI sheikh has issued a fatwa against anyone wanting to travel to Mars.
A member Saudi Arabia's board of religious scholars Sheikh Ali al Hemki has criticised the Mars One project which is attempting to organise a commercial mission to the red planet and has drawnexpressions of interest from more than 200 thousand people worldwide.
The Ah Hayat newspaper quotes him as saying the mission does not conform to "responsible Muslim" practices.
"These experiments will lead to the destruction of those who try," and so should be done with animals, not people," he said.
"Believers should not should throw themselves into their own hands into perdition. "

While 477 Saudi citizens have applied for the mission, only six have so far been accepted.
The Mars One project aims to create the first human settlement on the Solar System's second-smallest planet.
More than 2500 Australians have applied for the one-way trip to Mars, which will double as a reality TV show.

The audience will vote for which teams they want on Mars first. Mars One says broadcasting rights and sponsorship will predominantly fund the $6 billion project, which will start training successful applicants in 2015.
Successful applicants will have to say goodbye to Earth forever, with the first crew of four people expected to launch into space for their seven months journey to Mars in 2022.

Right. This will stop it dead in its tracks. In related article, fatwa declared against Christmas.......

[Sargon The Grape]

But it is being done with animals.

...oh wait, I forgot, these idiots think humans were specially created separately from all other life on Earth.

[Hydra009]

Just more Mars for the rest of us.

The Imams can keep their dusty, backwater hellhole and we'll cruise on to our...slightly dustier hellhole.  At least till terraforming kicks in.

[Plu]

I don't think they understand what is the purpose with any of those missions.

This. Unless he thinks we can train a monkey to do the science experiments, there's no point to sending it.

[Solitary]

The odds of survival are not that good in my opinion. So if he is right and they fail it is a feather in his cap and makes him look like a prophet.  :roll:  Solitary

[Jmpty]

I have grown weary of Fatwas.

[stromboli]

I don't personally see the point to a Mars mission until they have all the kinks worked out and know enough to assure the ability to live there. There is apparently water, but lower gravity and atmosphere issues are certainly to be considered. I've read the speculation about terraforming and so on, but they better have a good plan before they do it.

Fatwa? Meh. Fatwa against Christmas? Good luck with that.

[_Xenu_]

Just to play devil's advocate here, I think he meant to condemn it as a waste of human life.

[stromboli]

Just to play devil's advocate here, I think he meant to condemn it as a waste of human life.

True. Like issues of wasting life from a religion that has fundies strapping bombs to themselves. Hmmmm.....

[The Skeletal Atheist]

If I were a Saudi I'd sign up, and then when I got to Mars would write out "FUCK MUHAMMAD" in big letters, right in the Martian soil.

[Shiranu]

Just to play devil's advocate here, I think he meant to condemn it as a waste of human life.

That's how I interpreted it... kinda as if it's a suicide mission, something Muslims are highly against...

Er... wait...

[Aupmanyav]

Indian Mars orbiter goes up around the same time when Nasa will send its probe. Nasa has asked Indian scientists to have peanuts before and during the launch, which they say will be lucky for the project.

But Fatwa against Christmas? :roll: What do these people think Christmas is? How do you stop people from celebrating something? So basically what is issued fatwa here is just Christmas food, decorations, shopping. No presents! :rollin:

Not stopping, but there should not be any overt mention, noise, or show of Christmas. There should be no idol or image of Mary or Jesus. Allah abhors that. Do it in the confine of your house.

[SilentFutility]

Where's the fatwa against islamic suicide bombers if you're not allowed to voluntarily throw yourself into perdition?

[Minimalist]

I think the fucker has a point.  Mars should be kept a religion free zone.

Keep all believers the fuck out....except for believers in this guy.

[Gerard]

Interesting thing is he is not saying it is evil and devil's work all together, but demand it to be done with animals?

That's a very practical idea. It should make the whole operation hugely more successful....... Letting dogs and monkeys go to Mars. An inspiring and useful achievement that will accomplish.....   :shock:

Gerard