Islamic clerics mull smoking ban in Indonesia

Padang Panjang: Indonesian clerics have gathered to debate whether Muslims in the nation of 235 million should be banned from smoking.

A decision by the top Islamic body to issue a fatwa, or religious ruling, could help shape government policy in one of the world's largest tobacco markets.

Gusrizal Gazahar, a member of Indonesia's Ulema Council, said more than 700 clerics and theologists turned out for talks in Padang Panjang, a village in West Sumatra.

Other hot issues included possible restrictions on practicing yoga and bans on underage marriage and even voting.