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MUI issues ban on Israeli dates
Sudarmoto, the head of international relations and cooperation at the MUI, announced earlier this week that Israeli-grown dates should be considered haram or forbidden by Islamic law.
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A seller prepares dates for customers at a shop at Tanah Abang Market in Jakarta, on March 12, 2024, during Ramadan. (Antara/Erlangga Bregas Prakoso)
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s part of the movement to boycott products and goods produced by Israel, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has banned Muslims in the country from purchasing or consuming dates grown in the Jewish state.
Sudarmoto, the head of international relations and cooperation at the MUI, announced earlier this week that Israeli-grown dates should be considered haram or forbidden by Islamic law.
"If you come across Israeli dates, please don't buy those," the senior MUI cleric was quoted by Detik.com as saying.
He said that the ban against Israeli dates was in fact a follow-up to an edict issued by the MUI in 2023 on the obligation to support the Palestinian cause.
"The MUI edict has been issued, and this is a reminder that that Muslims and Indonesians in general who care about humanity must boycott Israeli products and the products of companies or countries affiliated with Israel," he said.
The council also provided a list of brands of dates grown and packaged in Israel including "Star Dates," "Dates Medjoul" and "Jordan River".
Muslims in Indonesia have in the past few years developed a taste for Medjool dates, which are considered to be the best quality dates in the world. Consumption of the fruit peaks during the Ramadan fasting month and the Idul Fitri holiday.
Statistics show that half of the world's Medjool dates are grown in Israel. Only 108,000 tons of Medjool dates are annually grown worldwide.
