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NU disagrees with Muhammadiyah on anti-tobacco edict

NU Online  ·  Kamis, 13 Mei 2010 | 12:11 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
General chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siradj said that he disagreed with the Majelis Tarjih (Islamic Law Council: read) of Muhammadiyah for its anti-tobacco edict.

"We are really sorry before, We have disagreed with the Muhhamadiyah's edict. Do not issue an edict, let's see its impacts," Siradj said on the sidelines of a meeting with members of the House at the PBN U headquarters here on Wednesday.r />
Siradj said the edict had given social and economic impacts for not considering the fate of a large number of cigarette companies' employees whose livelihoods depend on the existence of cigarette factories.

"At least, some employees in cigarette companies, tobacco farmers, till security officers and others consider that they have so far done forbidden things. Whereas, they are mostly NU followers (Nahdliyin)," he said.

Sirajd aslo said that it's not easy to issue edicts of haram except for things explicitly forbidden under Islamic law like pork, wine and blood.

"All these things can clearly be declared as haram," he said.

Muhammadiyah which has around 20 million followers across the country, recently declared smoking to be haram, or 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. (nam)