In order to encourage anti-polio immunization campaigns in Pakistan and some other Muslim countries, Islamic scholars have termed anti-polio immunization as Islamic and labelled killing of polio workers as un-Islamic.
Islamabad, Feb 28/Nationalturk – Backing the anti-polio drives and condemning attack on polio workers, Islamic scholars have termed anti-polio immunization as Islamic and labelled killing of polio workers as un-Islamic.
According to Saudi newspaper, Arab News, Muslim ulemas and scholars of Islamic Advisory Academy (IAA), Fiqa Academy Jamia Al Azhar and Islamic Development Bank, Imam of Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia in a meeting convened by Islamic Advisory Group (IAG) at the headquarters Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah yesterday adopted a “Jeddah declaration”.
The declaration has focused on action to address challenges facing polio eradication efforts in the few remaining polio-endemic parts of the Islamic world especially, Pakistan, Somalia Afghanistan and Nigeria.
‘Declaration addresses ban on vaccinations’
The declaration seeks to address issues such as ban on vaccinations, lack of access to children in some areas, deadly attacks on health workers and misconceptions among the community about mass vaccination campaigns.
According to IAG chairman Saleh bin Humaid, the Islamic scholars asserted that protection against diseases was obligatory and admissible under Islamic Shariah, and declared that any action which does not support these preventive measures and causes harm to humanity are un-Islamic.
The religious leaders denounced violence against health workers involved in polio vaccination campaigns, noting that such violence caused lasting harm to children and communities.
Many polio workers killed in Pakistan
Many health workers and polio volunteers including women have been killed in terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Militants have targeted workers on anti-polio drive at many parts of the country, sending fear among the health workers.
Reiterating the safety and acceptability in Islam of vaccination against polio, the scholars said, “It was a sin to claim the contrary and expose children to unnecessary risk.”
They also resolved to ensure that information on the safety of vaccination is easily available to relevant religious and community leaders and to advocate for financial and technical support for polio eradication with the Islamic donor community.
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Asia News/ NationalTurk Pakistan News
