MUI Says it Against Holding National Condom Week

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian Ulema Council's (MUI) Chairman KH Amidhan has said that his party disagrees with the implementation of the National Condom Week from Dec. 1 to 7. "The MUI does not agree with the implementation of the National Condom Week, because it only suits the interests of the condom industry, rather than promote the use of contraceptives," Amidhan said on Monday. He noted that the promotion of condoms could be misinterpreted by teenagers and would encourage them to engage in free sex. Amidhan further stated that sex and reproduction education for the public, including for teenagers, was far more important than the promotion of condom use. The idea of holding a National Condom Week was initiated by the Ministry of Health and organized by the National AIDS Eradication Commission (KPAN). But Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said that the condom use campaign was not a forbidden issue. "It is more dangerous to distribute cigarettes than to launch a campaign on the use of condoms," the Minister noted. (*)