YANBU, 1 April 2008 — Fed up with an unhealthy habit, village leaders in Marba, 150 km north of Yanbu, have vowed to make their hometown the Kingdom’s first tobacco-free community.
“Convinced of the health hazards of consuming tobacco, local shopkeepers are cooperating with our efforts,” Saud Saad Al-Orfi, chief of the village, told Arab News.
The ban includes sheesha, a dried fruit and tobacco concoction that is smoked in water pipes.
The chief added that he intends to hold a two-week antismoking clinic. Villager Abdullah Al-Orfi said this was a positive decision.
“I wonder why people, even after being aware of the risks involved in smoking, still continue the habit,” he said.
Abdullah also pointed out that several scholars in the Kingdom have issued fatwas prohibiting tobacco smoking.
Village leaders will take their campaign to local schools for the benefit of teachers and students. Some have even called for Friday sermons highlighting the dangers of smoking.
Marba’s decision has caught the attention of neighboring villages, which are considering following suit.
