New | Fatwa issued against hunting of endangered wildlife in Indonesia
Religious council says trade in endangered species immoral and sinful
Indonesia’s top Islamic clerical body has issued a religious fatwa against the illegal hunting and trade in endangered animals in the country, which the conservation group the WWF hailed as the world’s first.
The fatwa by the Indonesian Ulema Council declares such activities “unethical, immoral and sinful”, council official Asrorun Niam Sholeh said.
“All activities resulting in wildlife extinction without justifiable religious grounds or legal provisions are forbidden. These include illegal hunting and trading of endangered animals,” said Sholeh, secretary of the council’s commission on fatwas.
“Whoever takes away a life, kills a generation. This is not restricted to humans, but also includes God’s other living creatures, especially if they die in vain.”
The country of 250 million people is the world’s most populous Muslim nation, but it remained unclear whether the fatwa would have any practical impact.
It provides a spiritual aspect and raises moral awareness
Indonesia’s vast and unique array of wildlife is under increasing pressure from development, logging and agricultural expansion.