While on the topic of superstitious cretins, here’s another example of another, although he’s a good deal less benign (and, probably, quite a bit smarter) than the misguided showbiz mystics. ‘Sheikh’ al-Fartusi is a Shiite militant now making a grab for power in part of Baghdad.

Al-Fartusi told the New York Times that “he was particularly concerned about the sale of alcohol, which he insisted is forbidden under Christianity and Judaism. “Islam and all religions forbid alcohol…Only the atheists from Christianity drink.” When informed otherwise, Sheik Fartusi was cheerfully dismissive and defended his recent religious rulings that ban alcohol, require all men to grow beards and condemn all women who chat with foreign soldiers here as prostitutes. “I’m just ordering what God ordered,” he said. “I didn’t forbid Christians or Muslims from taking a walk under the trees…””

No, buddy, you take a hike.