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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Makkah: Making the holy city smoke-free, Islamic Society, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Society
Makkah: Making the holy city smoke-free
Mohammed Rasooldeen I Arab News

RIYADH: Coinciding with the beginning of Ramadan, the Kingdom has launched an intensive anti-smoking campaign in the holy city of Makkah. Worshippers are being urged to make the holy city smoke-free.

“More than 100 health officials and a large contingent of scouts have taken positions around the Grand Mosque in Makkah to raise awareness about the negative effects of smoking,” Dr. Sameer Al-Sabban, executive director of the Anti-Smoking Campaign in Makkah, told Arab News yesterday.

“We have laun-ched this campaign at a time when thousands of local and foreign pilgrims are gathering at the Grand Mosque so that our message can reach the four corners of the globe,” he said.

“It’s a pity that people smoke around the Grand Mosque. Smoking is hazardous to the smokers and to the city’s environment. Officials from the Health Ministry are handing smokers pictures of the Grand Mosque and miswaks (traditional tooth-cleaning sticks),” said Al-Sabban, adding that this is an indirect message to raise awareness that smoking is forbidden in the area.

The health message in the picture is printed in seven foreign languages for the benefit of foreign pilgrims, said Al-Sabban, adding that the officials have been directed to walk around the Grand Mosque’s courtyard from iftar until suhoor.

http://newageislam.com/makkah--making-the-holy-city-smoke-free/islamic-society/d/698


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