INDONESIAN SCHOLAR COUNCIL REFUSES TO CERTIFY CIGARETTE

Jakarta, 22 Dhulqo’dah 1435/17 September 2014 (MINA) – Institute for Food Drugs and Cosmetics assessment of Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) refused to certify tobacco companies who starts asking how to apply for halal certification.

“There are several tobacco companies inquire for halal certification process, but we rejected it,” LPPOM MUI Deputy Director Muti Arintawati said in a statement in Jakarta, Wednesday.

One of her staff Yuni Herina said her agency received several requests from companies who has interest in applying halal certification in order to add more profit, following the certification process goes viral in the country.

Despite smoking has become a popular habit in Indonesia, the council has made it clear that cigarette nearly haram (forbidden in Islam).

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In the agreement of MUI Fatwa Commission Ulama in 2009, the prohibition of cigarettes primarily intended for pregnant women, children and in public places that bothers many people.

Yuni affirmed in the research of MUI Expert team in 2010, they found that cigarette filters contained hemoglobin or blood substance derived from pig blood, which is forbidden in Islamic teachings.

At that time, a team of researchers led by Dr. Anna P. Roswiem from Bogor Agricultural Institute(IPB) explained, the blood is commonly used to filter toxins contained in cigarettes, and it filters well. Hemoglobin of pig blood filter tobacco toxins that could possibly minimized the poison effect.(L/R04/P007/P006/R03)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)