International
Conferences
|
Recommendations of the Sixth
Int'l Conference on Organized
by IOMS in
in
Collaboration with from
29 August - 1 September, 1998 |
Recommendations
Smoking
Having heard all the religious and medical papers submitted, the Conference further recommends the following:
Tobacco smoking is an addiction-forming habit and a cause of a number of health ailments, in addition to being harmful economically and socially. It is, therefore, a substance harmful to man and its use contravenes the five main aims of Islamic shariah. Accordingly, the Conference recommends the following
Public Awareness of Smoking Risks
Through schools: Since school is an effective institution in the education of young people and in the formation of their behaviour patterns, the Conference recommends the following:
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To make pupils aware of the health, economic and social risks of smoking.
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Psychiatrists and sociologists should give special attention to school children who smoke, investigate the reasons that drive them to smoking, and try and deal with them.
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The Conference further recommended that cigarette advertising be banned in schools and their neighborhoods.
- The
Conference urges sports clubs not to allow cigarette advertising within
if their own premises, nor accept sponsorship of sports events from
tobacco companies.
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The Media In view of the media's effective and serious role in society, especially in view of the spread of satellite TV, the Conference recommends the following:
a. Newspapers, radio and television should refrain from advertising that promotes smoking of all kinds.
b. The media should contribute towards the spread of awareness of health, economic and social risks of smoking. -
Executive and Legislative bodies: Being responsible for passing and implementing legislation, the Conference urges these bodies as follows:
a. To pass laws that ban smoking in public and closed buildings, as well as on public transport and aeroplanes.
b. Ban the sale of cigarettes through automatic machines.
c. Ban selling of cigarettes
to children under 18 years of age, and ensure the enforcement of such
ban.
d. Compensate tobacco farmers fairly and encourage them to grow
alternative useful crop, as a step towards a total ban of tobacco farming.
e. Impose higher taxes on cigarette and other tobacco products
and utilise the tax revenue to fight smoking.
Non-Governmental Organizations
The Conference recommends:
a. Promote the setting up of non-governmental organizations and
societies devoted to the education of families and society as a whole
on the risks and, harmful effects of smoking.
b. To work closely with government ministries in combating smoking
and urging patients suffering illnesses as a result of smoking to take
action against tobacco companies demanding compensation.
Cigarette Production
The Conference recommends to manufacturing countries the following:
a. Cease importation of cigarette manufactured abroad.
b. Reduce domestic production gradually.
c. Not to issue licenses for new cigarette factories.
d. Health warnings to be clearly displayed.
International Organizations
(concerned with health)
a. The Conference urges all countries that organizations concerned
with food and medicines be charged with supervising tobacco products.
These organizations should be allowed to apply the same rules and regulations
they apply to food and medicines.
b. To publish all new research in this field and make the results
thereof readily available to all countries in order to educate the public
to the hazards of such products.
The Conference recommends that mechanisms for implementation and follow-up be set up to ensure the success of the fight against smoking in all countries.
The Conference urges Muslim countries to co-operate with one another in the formulation of policies, laws and organizations that would protect them against multi-national tobacco companies inside each country.
The Conference recommend the adoption of the regional strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean on combating smoking.
At the close of the Conference proceedings, we express out thanks and great satisfaction to His Excellency President Sulaiman Demeriel for his sponsorship of the Conference. We further thank the Turkish government and people for their generosity in hosting this Conference and providing an excellent atmosphere for its success.
The Conference has delegated Dr. Ehsan Doghramagi and Dr. Abdulrahman al-Awadi to hand in a letter of thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the President of the Republic, president Sulaiman Demeriel, in response to the Letter His Excellency had sent to the Conference.
Last but not least, we would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency, Brother Dr. Ehsan Doghramagi for his kind invitation to hold the Conference on the beloved Turkish soil. Words on their own will not do justice in expressing our gratitude for the generous hospitality and kind reception we have received, and the tireless effort and valuable time spent in organizing the Conference and preparing for it, all of which has ensured its success and smooth running throughout.
We would also wish to thank Dr Doghramagi's assistants and helpers for their hard work in ensuring the comfort of all participants.
The Conference further expresses deep thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, and the Kuwaiti government and people for all their continuous support and care to the Islamic Organization of Medical Sciences, and for their support towards its conferences that are aimed at the good and well-being of Islam and all humanity.
The Conference also expresses its thanks and appreciation to the Islamic Organization of Medical Sciences, the Islamic Education, Science and Culture Organization (ISESCO), and the World Health Organization, as well as to all those who worked on this Conference, for their sincere efforts that have contributed towards the success of this Conference.