RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ASKED TO BE WISE IN ISSUING FATWAS

Jakarta, March 16 (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has asked religious organizations to be wise in issuing fatwas (religious edicts) that could affect the people's life, particularly their livelihoods.

The minister said that if religious organizations were not wise in issuing religious edicts they would create unrest in the people's life.

"Fatwas can affect many aspects of life, not only religion but also people's economy. So, I hope that religious organizations will be wise in issuing religious advice because it could have an impact on many sectors. If it impacts on the people's economy it will create unrest," he said in response to ongoing polemics on the admonition issued by Muslim organization Muhammadiyah that smoking was 'haram' (banned by religion).

However, the minister said that it was the competence of Muslim clerics to issue fatwas or religious advice, not of the government represented by the religious affairs minister.

"So, basically the religious affairs ministry does not have the competence to issue fatwas," he said.

Therefore, he said, the Religious Affairs Ministry could not summon the Muhammadiyah organization for the polemics following its fatwa against smoking.