Curbing condoms at drugstores

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Ulemas Council has proposed a regulation that, if accepted by the government, would force you to produce your marriage certificate to buy a condom.

Council chief Hasan Basri has proposed that condoms be sold at drugstores and made available only to married people who can produce a doctors' prescription.

Basri pointed out that if he ignores the free sale of rubbers at kiosks and shops, it would signify that the council endorses free sex, which is strictly forbidden by Islam.

He reiterated the council's fierce objection to campaigns for the use of condoms to curb the spread of AIDS.

"This (campaign) will also mean that we allow adultery," he was quoted by Antara as saying when opening an ulemas meeting in the East Kalimantan capital of Samarinda.

He argued that condoms are not needed to prevent the spread of the killer disease. Instead, he said, people should be provided with strong religious beliefs to stop them from engaging in extramarital sex. (pan)