Indonesia: MUI Lebong speaks out against tiger hunting

The Jakarta Post 29 Mar 17;

With the number of Sumatran tigers dwindling, the local chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Lebong Regency, Bengkulu, has said it would step up the campaign against tiger hunting in the region.

The council issued a fatwa to protect endangered animals, including the tigers, in 2014. The fatwa, which declared tiger hunting un-Islamic, was part of the council’s support for the campaign, MUI Lebong chairman Amin Amir said.

“People keep hunting even though the law regarding this matter has been regulated,” he said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday.

“We will tell our preachers who live in villages near the forest to spread the information about the protection of endangered animals,” he added.

(Read also: Tiger skin traders get four years in prison)

Lingkar Institute director Iswadi welcomed Amin’s support for the campaign to protect endangered animals, saying the MUI had a strategic role in raising people’s awareness about the issue. (rdi/ary)