UAE Clerics' Fatwa Forbids Muslims From Traveling To Mars

PolygamousRanchKid writes "The Khaleej Times of Dubai reports that a fatwa committee has forbidden Muslims from taking a one-way trip to the Red Planet. At the moment, there is no technology available that would allow for a return trip from Mars, so it is truly a one-way ticket for the colonists, who may also become reality TV stars in the process. The committee of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the United Arab Emirates that issued the fatwa against such a journey doesn't have anything against space exploration, Elon Musk's Mars visions, or anything like that. Rather, the religious leaders argue that making the trip would be tantamount to committing suicide, which all religions tend to frown upon."

Re:Well for once I agree with religious crazies

[Anonymous Coward]

Shut it, Mars. We know what you did to Spirit.
Now you're gonna pay.

Hold the lines

[Dorianny]

I can't see many religious people lining up for an expedition to discover if life evolved on another planet. They still don't believe that it evolved on this one.

Re: Well for once I agree with religious crazies

[Immerman]

Come now, don't be such a pessimist, over half the humans who ever lived haven't died*, you gotta like those odds.

*depending on you definition of human. If you include homo erectus the ratio is no doubt somewhat smaller..

Irony

[Dunbal]

the religious leaders argue that making the trip would be tantamount to committing suicide, which all religions tend to frown upon."

Brought to you by the religion that also endorses suicide bombers, because some suicides are actually ok.

Re: Well for once I agree with religious crazies

[Opportunist]

Predictable environment conditions, yes. Unfortunately, they're predicted to be "fucking crappy".

Re: Well for once I agree with religious crazies

[mrclevesque]

"Mars has a much more predictable environment, so the risk of death should be much lower."

A vat of boiling oil has is also a more predictable environment.

Re:This from a religion

[myowntrueself]

This from a religion famous for suicide bombers.

What a shame the radicals and terrorists don't actually READ the Koran.

Well at least there will be one muslim-free planet...