WISE OR UNWISE ANTI-SMOKING EDICT

Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has criticised Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organisation for its anti-tobacco edict, calling on it to “act more wisely” and not “cause public restlessness.” The organisation, Muhammadiyah, which has around 30 million followers across the country, last week declared smoking to be forbidden under Islamic law. The edict has sparked protests, particularly from the country’s tobacco industry and groups protesting the perceived meddling by religious groups in private affairs. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) earlier issued an edict banning smoking, but only for children and pregnant women. In response, Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said the anti-smoking edict was meant to support campaigns against tobacco and help the government attain its Millennium Development Goals as laid out by the United Nations.