Tobacco.org

• Commission seeks MUI support to ban underage smoking 

Smoking should be declared haram (unlawful in Islam) to protect children from its harmful effects, the National Commission for Child Protection has told the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

"Changing the old paradigm, which regards smoking as a normal thing, must be supported by all elements of society, including the faith community," commission chairman Seto Mulyadi said on the sidelines of a meeting with MUI leaders Tuesday. . . .

"Parents, families, teachers and all adults around children, including the tobacco industry, must be aware of this prohibition. Advertisements targeting children as their customers should be limited," said Amidhan.

"However, to turn that stance into a fatwa (decree) we need to bring the discussion in the Ijtima' Ulama assembly, which will be held at the end of this year in West Sumatra," Amidhan said.

The Ijtima' Ulama assembly is a gathering of MUI's fatwa commissions nationwide, which discuss and decide on new fatwa.

Jump to full article »