| It's final: Malaysian Muslims should learn to live with | | | | market, the reason why they couldn't allow its |
| their wrinkles after the National Fatwa Council, the | | | | use. |
| highest Islamic authority, ruled against the use of | | | | Council Chair Professor Datuk Shukor Husin told |
| Botox. | | | | The New Straits Times, Malaysia's largest |
| Declaring the popular wrinkle remover as "haram" | | | | newspaper, that the decision to ban Botox was |
| or unlawful, the Council said Botox could not be | | | | reached after six months of deliberation wherein |
| used for cosmetic purposes amidst fears that it | | | | they studied reports from abroad and the fatwas |
| contains prohibited substances, including those | | | | in Middle Eastern countries, and consulted with |
| derived from pigs. | | | | local doctors. |
| For Muslim Malays, eating pork or coming in | | | | Surprisingly, the Council allowed Botox to be used |
| contact with pigs is strictly forbidden, even more | | | | to treat cerebral palsy, muscle spasms, and |
| than drinking or adultery. | | | | migraines provided there are no other alternative |
| "Islamic law prohibits a Muslim from consuming | | | | medical treatments for these conditions. |
| alcohol, eating or drinking blood and its | | | | "Some 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million |
| by-products, and eating the meat of a carnivore | | | | population are Muslims but doctors quoted by the |
| or omnivore, such as pork, monkeys, canines, and | | | | newspaper said only between 10 percent and a |
| felines (piscivorous animals, however, are not | | | | third of their customers are Muslim. Each Botox |
| considered carnivorous). Crab meat is also seen | | | | treatment in Malaysia costs up to 700 ringgit |
| as prohibited by some but the majority of | | | | (£105)," according to the Guardian Unlimited. |
| Muslims consider all shellfish (including crabs, | | | | While the Council's decision is not legally binding, |
| lobsters, shrimp, crayfish, and all non-poisonous | | | | Muslims who don't follow the ruling are said to be |
| mollusks) to be 'halal' or lawful," said the editors of | | | | committing a sin. However, observers said that |
| Wikipedia. | | | | won't stop wealthy Muslims from seeking Botox |
| The Council was also concerned about the | | | | treatments abroad. |
| proliferation of fake Botox products in the | | | | |