All urged to respect Ramadhan

All urged to respect Ramadhan

BANTEN, West Java: Local ulemas are calling on proprietors of discotheques and karaoke lounges to respect the approaching holy fasting month of Ramadhan, Antara reported.

K.H. Rafei, head of the local office of the Indonesian Council Ulemas, asked entertainment business owners along the Carita Beach tourism resort in Pandeglang to either stage "decent performances only" or close down business temporarily.

"Hopefully, the fasting month may then proceed in peace," Rafei said. "The problem is, it's often the Moslems themselves who frequent those places during Ramadhan. This is the root of our problem."

The government and Moslem organizations have established that fasting will start on Jan. 22. (swe)