"Halal" Certification Does Not Apply To TV Programmes, Says Minister

JAKARTA, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- Indonesian Communication and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring said television programmes should not be evaluated on the basis of whether they are "halal" (permissible) or "haram" (forbidden) under Islam.

"There's no such thing as a halal or haram TV programme. Television programmes should be assessed as to whether or not they have educational value, in line with the law," Tifatul was quoted as saying by the English daily, Jakarta Globe, Tuesday.

The minister was commenting on a call by the West Java chapter of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) for the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) to looking into the feasibility of devising "halal" certification for television programmes.

Meanwhile, KPI chairman Mochamad Riyanto was quoted as saying that it was necessary to discuss the proposal further because the matter was related to the authority of various institutions.

Riyanto said that during the month of Ramadan, TV stations had committed many numerous ethical violations by airing comedy shows with "insulting" content during the time when Indonesians break their fast or eat their morning meal.

KPI commissioner Nina Mutmainah said the commission has issued letters of reprimand to seven television stations during the month of Ramadan for violations which mostly consisted of contempt for the minorities and the marginalised.

-- BERNAMA