Muslim leaders unleash fatwa on Indonesia's smoking problems

On the streets of Jakarta, just a few miles on from a towering Marlboro Man cigarette advertisement, there's a second cigarette billboard featuring an American celebrity - singer Kelly Clarkson.

The former American Idol winner invites fans to buy tickets to her upcoming concert in Jakarta, the nation's capital. The logo of her sponsor is splashed in huge type above her head - the popular Indonesian cigarette brand L.A. Lights.

It's the sort of 'in-your-face' tobacco advertising that has been banned in the US and many other countries, but Indonesia remains a special case. The world's fourth most populous nation allows tobacco companies virtual free rein to peddle their products.

However public debate exploded here after Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organisation, Muhammadiyah, issued a fatwa banning smoking. Though not legal, the religious ruling does put pressure on smokers in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

There has been a furious reaction to the fatwa and many have questioned whether it was influenced by grant money received from American anti-smoking groups. Muhammadiyah officials have denied any connection.

"Cigarette companies have also agreed that in terms of health, smoking can cause cancer, heart attacks, impotence, pregnancy and fatal disorders. In other words, it could mean slow suicide and it was not in accordance with paragraph contained in the Koran."

Indonesia's anti-tobacco campaigners are concerned the country's young are easy prey.

About a quarter of Indonesian boys aged 13-15 are already hooked on tobacco. Cigarettes here sell for about one dollar a pack, or as little as a few cents a cigarette.

A video posted on YouTube prompted outrage in the country when a four-year-old boy was shown blowing smoke rings and flicking a cigarette.

The boys parents who live in Malang, East Java, said their son had been smoking regularly.

Quote: "I do not know when he started smoking, what I remember was I just finished working and I saw him smoking casually. I was very surprised," said Mulud, father of four-year-old Sandy Susanto.

"Since then, every afternoon, Sandy always ask for cigarettes and black coffee," he added, as his young son was sitting in the background, smoking a cigarette.

In a desperate attempt to reverse current trends anti-smoking advocates have turned their attention on well known figures like Clarkson, in the hope she will drop her tobacco sponsorship deal and that others will follow suite.

According to a 2008 study on tobacco revenue in Indonesia, smokers spend more than 10 percent of their household income on cigarettes; that's three times more than they spend on education-related expenses such as school fees and books.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Muslim
• leaders
• unleash
• fatwa
• Indonesia's
• smoking
• problems

[kingjayapala]

"He asks for cigarettes and black coffee." Then why don't you do what my parents did and say "no!"

[kain161718]

ill smoke your fatwa bitches

[reachtheground23]

Crazy country :D

[randy6335]

@bunce101 I said this 1 month ago,God can judge any country.look at Japan and all that has

Hitting Indonsia,killing christians does bring judgement,we all all in for it.

[bunce101]

@randy6335 why then is australia and florida the cause of the most horrific hurricanes in history?

[randy6335]

I am a American,we are no differnt then you,judgement will come here as well.

You have alot of vocanoes,earthquakes and tusamies,you need to quit killing Christians down there.God protects his own,Or something worse will happen down there,no repentance will only bring natural disasters.

[forgottenmemories63]

When will they Issue a Fatwa on Living your Life ?

You should then go kill yourself for Allah.

Stupid Malaysian Retards.

[RoniCMaster]

Prevalent official corruption and exploitative cigarette industry is what allowed for this problem. This country needs a revolution. Without it, we can never get rid of those clowns in Senayan. They have sold their country and their souls for a dollar. Such corrupt leadership can never lead Indonesia to greatness. While the world seek greater heights, we are here left behind by our blindness and stupidity. We have no use for money after we are dead. But what we do today, will echo for eternity.

[firstprototype2010]

western influence

[josephtan1818]

u know, underage smoking are common in indonesia, but here in malaysia no!!! since 2003 we were fully banned such advertisement except motor sport events. in indonesia's tv ads, smoking make people smart but in malaysia there was no such things and we advertise the popular's Brands chicken essence(Brands chicken essence has nothing to do w/ tobacco product)