Fatwa Against Statues - That Means No Mimes

This article discusses a recent fatwa from the highest religious source in Egypt. This fatwa forbids the display of any and all statues, and specifically targets sculptors and their creations.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/todaysfeatures/2006/April/todaysfeatures_April5.xml&section=todaysfeatures

It overturns a 100-year old fatwa that says sculptures are ok, so long as they aren't worshipped. Says art/history officials:

""The notion sounds “ridiculous,” Yussef Zidan, director of the manuscript museum at the prestigious Bibliotheca Alexandrina, told AFP (of the idea that bombers would blow up museums that held such artwork.)

“Why would anyone even bring up the issue (of the statues) in a country where there are more than 10 state-owned institutions that teach sculpting and more than 20 others that teach the history of art?”

Ghitani (editor of the literary Akhbar al-Adab magazine) added: “It’s time for those placing impediments between Islam and innovation to get out of our lives.”

WHICH IS MY THOUGHT EXACTLY.

The whole purpose of highlighting this article was to show yet another blindfold being placed in front of the islamic world's eyes. What possible purpose could this fatwa/declaration serve? Why now? What spurred it? Could it possibly be a reaction to the Mohammed cartoons?

In any case, it is completely ridiculous. As the article linked above mentions, this is somewhat akin to the Taliban destryong the thousand year old statues of Buddha. Who would want to be associated with that?

Bottom line: this fatwa is only meant to keep muslims from realizing their lives, their countries, and their souls have been hijacked year after year by psychopaths whose only goal is complete power through Islamic Fundamentalist subjugation. What'll be next, a ban on music?