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Technicality Stubs Out Total Ban on Smoking Ads
Dessy Sagita | May 27, 2011

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DrDez
12:43pm May 28, 2011

Exbrit

In fact since cigarettes are a known narcotic - as such they are banned in Islam. I quote

O You who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Avoid (such abominations) that you may prosper. (5:90)

Allah Ta’ala has described intoxicants amongst other things as being appalling, despicable and hateful acts of Satan and he has commanded us to abstain from them, Allah thereafter states in the next verse: -

Satan’s plan is to sow hatred and enmity amongst you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hamper you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not give up? (5:91)

This Aayah tells us how it is a detestable act of Satan, because intoxicants apart from sowing the seeds of enmity also stop you from the sole purpose of having been sent to the world, namely the remembrance of Allah. It is interesting therefore to see this being used in Aceh to cane gamblers whilst the millions of smokers go un challenged

Yet 1 more contradiction I am afraid...

MG - I would like your views on this please?


WeegieBoy
10:17am May 28, 2011

Smells of brown envelopes to me????

exbrit
5:53am May 28, 2011

Where is the MUI? Killing millions of people is not something an Islamic country should have anything to do with.

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Two years into drafting the 2009 Health Law’s implementing regulations, the Health Ministry announced on Friday that the expected blanket ban on cigarette advertisements and sponsorships could not go forward.

“Initially, we wanted to impose a total ban on cigarette ads and sponsorships, but after considering the importance of many sectors we decided not to do that, we will only control it,” said Budi Sampurna, head of the legal bureau at the Ministry of Health.

Budi said the planned ban was hampered by two existing laws on the press and broadcasting, which allowed advertising as long as cigarettes or their packaging were not shown on television.

He added that the passage of another law on controlling tobacco, currently being drafted, could overrule the existing laws, and allow a total ban to be implemented in the future.

The Health Law had been seen as a victory by activists as it classified tobacco as an addictive substance, which meant its traffic had to be controlled by the government.

But activists have been disappointed over and over again, first over the delay in the release of the implementing regulations, and then in February’s announcement that a total ban would only be imposed in stages.

Budi said the government had yet to finalize exactly how ads would be limited, but stressed the state would do its best to prevent them from being viewed by young people.

“We realize it will not be 100 percent effective in reducing the number of smokers but let’s see it as a brake, we are slowing down the increase in new smokers,” he said. The government, he added, would also urge regional administrations to create more smoke-free areas and limit billboards promoting cigarettes.

Activists were not placated. “Honestly I’m not convinced by the government’s claim that they will limit the number of ads,” said Fuad Baradja, head of public education at the Indonesian Smoking Control Foundation (LM3).

“The most ideal policy to fight tobacco addiction is the FCTC, if the government insists on not ratifying the framework, they should at least issue a regulation that is on the same track,” he said, referring to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Indonesia is the only country in the Asia-Pacific region that has not ratified the convention, which requires its members to ban all tobacco advertising, including sponsorship and promotion, and impose no-smoking zones.

Arist Merdeka Sirait, chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas Anak) said the government’s decision contradicted the Health Law.

“The law clearly states tobacco as an addictive substance and clearly addictive substances should not be advertised,” he said. “The government should ask themselves, what do they care about more, income or the future or our children?”