Haj Committee - Smoking in Mecca

Mecca - A pilgrims from Turkey greeted us in a radius of 200 meters from the Grand Mosque, on Friday (5 / 11) after Fajr. Only one which he said: Have a cigarette. One of us who were smoking were soon stretched out his cigarette pack, give it a trunk and helped lit cigarette.

There is no right for us to smoke near the Grand Mosque. Anti-smoking poster posted at several locations around the Grand Mosque. Radius of five kilometers from the Grand Mosque is the area smoke-free. Selling cigarettes in this area was dilarng. This program began to be intensified this year. But, there are secretly in the courtyard of the mosque was they lit a cigarette.

"We need cooperation from the pilgrims to make the two Holy Cities into the lowest as tobacco consumed in the world," said Dr. Sameer Al-Sabban, executive director of the Anti-Smoking Campaign in Makkah, was quoted as saying "arabnews" beginning this November.

Because of the ban, looking for cigarettes in Makkah was not an easy job. Any shopkeeper who found, always shook his head when asked about the cigarette. Before you know the location where tobacco is sold, half an hour around Mecca not necessarily get a cigarette. One night, we even have to go to Mecca pekampungan slums inhabited by many people of Indonesia. Ketemulah cigarettes there.

Each met pilgrims who had just come from Indonesia, do not forget we asked about cigarettes. Then share your happiness if there is also carrying cigarettes. But, there are also pilgrims jutsru request to us. "We can not take it. All discarded while still in the hostel, because practically not allowed to bring cigarettes," said a pilgrim.

I am not a smoker, but my friends while in Makkah, most of the smokers. Of the 10 people, only two people yng not smoke. Before leaving, they are determined to quit smoking in the Holy Land. But, apparently it is hard to do. "If the mouth was seared, smoked any cigarettes, just to eliminate the sour taste has long since not smoking it," said a friend who smoked.

For Al-Sabban, Mecca is the ideal place to stop smoking. Each year, one million of five million people who died because of smoking, is a Muslim. "This is mainly because of their lavish lifestyle and lack of knowledge about the dangers of smoking," said Al-Sabban.

For people who realize the ill effects of cigarettes, said Al-Sabban, pilgrimage is an ideal opportunity to quit smoking. In Saudi Arabia, an estimated 35-40 percent over the age of 15 years has been a smoker. Of the total male students aged 13-15 years, about 24 percent are smokers.

For female students, there are an estimated eight percent were smokers. More than 15 cigarettes a mylar burned every year in Saudi Arabia. Value reached 168 million U.S. dollars.
The amount that makes Saudi Arabia as the country's fourth largest tobacco consumed in the world.

So, since 2005, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has joined in the agreement antitembakau.
Billboards and posters following the anti-smoking clinic information on anti-smoking and smoking bans fatwas posted in various places. Buses of pilgrims were attached information. A school which we had visited, I and a friend who is also non-smokers - also display a poster of the dangers of cigarettes on school walls.

A teacher then showed the ki poster and say how dangerous tobacco. I'm sure he shows it to us because we are from Indonesia. They know, Indonesian people are smokers. Indonesian pilgrims who much smoking, representing that notion. With direct straightforward we say, we were both non-smokers, so the teacher was immediately divert our attention from the poster.
Ministry of Health also provides six clinics antimerokok to help the pilgrims. Clinics that provide free services, for both men and woman smoker. This is also part of the anti-smoking campaign.

A scout team and health workers have been deployed in the Grand Mosque to help raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco. In Jamarat too, they have similar tugs. "Unfortunately, smokers gathered in the back side of the Great Mosque for a smoke, because it is harmful to the environment around the Holy City," said Al-Sabban.

Going to the Grand Mosque, cigarettes in the bag was checked. A friend found out at the top there is a pack of cigarettes. Because not being smoked, yes no problem smoking was still taken. (Priyantono Oemar / MCH mecca)