Ulema against trade in human organs

Ulema against trade in human organs

JAKARTA: The country's largest Muslim organizations have
called for a drive against trade in human organs, saying that it
violated religious and social values.

Irfan Zidny, an executive member of Nadhlatul Ulama's law
making body, and his Muhammadiyah counterpart Wibisono told a
seminar here that Islam prohibits the practice, because human
organs belong to God and therefore deserve "honorable treatment".

Nadhlatul Ulama, claiming to have 40 million members, is the
largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, while Muhammadiyah is
the second.

The seminar was held to raise public awareness on the health
bill which is now being prepared by the House of Representatives
to replace the 1992 health law.

Representatives from the Catholic church, the Protestant
church and Hindu religion also shared their concern about the
trade.

Another speaker, Insp. Gen. Edi Darnadi, the National Police
Director for Special Crimes, suggested that the health bill
define the trade more specifically to help the police enforce the
law.

He said the police had found no cases related to human organs
transplants which could be categorized as crimes over the last
two years. -- Antara