Amien says smoking ban shocks him

Former Muhammadiyah chairman Amien Rais has questioned the country’s second largest Islamic group’s ban on smoking, which he says is too much.

Amien said the Muhammadiyah edict that declares smoking haram (forbidden under Islam) was a result of a cost-benefit analysis of several ulemas within the Muslim organization.

“I am not an expert in religion, but the edict has shocked me. It is OK if smoking is declared makruh [should be avoided],” Amien told Antara on the sidelines of his visit to the Central Java town of Banjarnegara on Saturday.

He said he did not find in the Holy Koran any verses that ban smoking.

”It’s only a cost-benefit analysis of several ulemas who believe smoking may cause diseases so that they ban smoking,” Amien said.