Islam bars selling of kidneys: Scholar
Islam bars selling of kidneys: Scholar
JAKARTA (JP): Islam prohibits the buying and selling of kidneys and other bodily organs, a Moslem scholar says.
Abdullah Syah, a professor of Islamic syariah (law) at the State Institute for Islamic Studies (IAIN) in Medan, North Sumatra, condemned the practice of people writing to newspapers and other publications, offering their organs for a certain sum of money.
"Selling kidneys or other bodily organs is strictly forbidden," he told the Antara news agency.
Islam teaches its followers to take good care of themselves, both physically and psychologically, as their body is a "mandate" from God, he said.
He called on press publications to stop accepting "advertisements" regarding kidneys and other organs.
"This is not something condoned by Allah," he said. "God provides for us, as long as we work hard to earn our living."
Islam does not prohibit kidney transplantation in medical emergencies, as that is an entirely different matter, he said.
"A person can donate his kidney only for the sake of saving a patient's life," he said. "A transplant is permitted, especially if the organ is taken from a dead body."
In 1993, a patient complained in a letter to a newspaper that he was offered a kidney in exchange of Rp 1 billion. Within days, other readers wrote and offered "cheaper" kidneys.
One of the letter read: "I need money very badly, I would sell it at a more reasonable price...(and use the money) to pay for my children's education and to start a business."
One doctor pointed out that the sale of kidneys is illegal in Indonesia. "Kidney transplantation on a commercial basis is prohibited," Dr. Rully Roesli said.
The 1992 Health Law states that "transplantation of organs and connective tissues of the body and blood transfusion can be carried out only on a humanitarian basis. The carrying out of such procedures for commercial gain is prohibited".
Violators face a maximum of 15 years imprisonment or a fine of Rp 300,000,000 under the law. (swe)