With social media increasingly turning into a platform for hate and bigotry, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Monday issued a guide for Muslims in the country on how to responsibly use the medium.

In the 20-page guide, which takes the form of a fatwa (edict), the MUI forbade Muslims from spreading hate speech, slanderous statements, hoaxes, pornographic material and racial slurs, which it deemed haram (forbidden under Islamic law).

“While communicating on social media, Muslims must consider the action as part of efforts to promote iman [faith] and ketakwaan [piety] instead of kufur [infidelity] and maksiat [sin],” the MUI said.

The body also declared in the edict that it was also haram for Muslims to take the job of a social media “buzzer” whose work is to distribute hoaxes, slanderous accusations and fake news for personal economic gain.

“We also proscribe Muslims from [...] supporting and taking advantage of the profession of social media buzzer,” the edict said.

MUI chairman Ma’ruf Amin officially handed over the fatwa to Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara in a ceremony on Monday and expressed hope that the guideline could be used as reference for a cybersecurity team at the ministry to prosecute any offenders.

Ma’ruf said that although the edict was nonbinding, he expected Muslims in Indonesia to abide by it.

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