Egypt's grand mufti, Sheikh Nasr Farid Wassel, branded smokers as "sinners" in remarks published Wednesday and announced the launch of a countrywide anti-smoking campaign.
"Smokers, tobacco manufacturers and sellers are sinners who are corrupting what society has built," Egypt's official expounder of Islamic law was quoted as saying by AFP.
The mufti also declared that financial gains made by the tobacco industry were unlawful in Islam and urged the government to turn cigarette factories to other uses.
Egyptian state television launched an anti-tobacco campaign several months ago, which focuses on health reasons for giving up smoking, but also used religious reasons for the first time - (AFP)
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