Saudi scholar: biofuel = alcohol = a 'sin'

As if corn-based ethanol hasn’t already taken enough of a beating for taking food out of people’s mouths and being a loser in the energy-equation and greenhouse-gas departments … now comes news that a prominent Saudi scholar warns that using biofuels is a sin.

The Al Arabiya News Channel reports that Sheikh Mohamed Al-Najimi is cautioning Muslim youths who study abroad not to use ethanol in their vehicles because the fuel is essentially alcohol, which Islam prohibits.

It’s not a fatwa just yet, though: the sheikh acknowledges the warning is — for now — just a personal opinion. However, he adds, the issue of biofuel use should be studied by religious bodies for a more definitive ruling.

(Hat tip to Biofuels Digest.)