Jakarta. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) recently told the public to keep boycotting products by businesses that are perceived to be pro-Israel as a means to show support for Palestinians. 

“We must never get bored of boycotting. The genocide in Palestine has not stopped. It is our job to continue advocating the boycotts of Israeli goods and those affiliated [to Israel],” M Cholil Nafis, a senior official at MUI, said Monday, as reported by news agency Antara. 

The health authorities in Gaza reported that Israeli attacks --which had heightened since Oct. 7-- had killed over 40,000 Palestinians. According to Cholil, MUI has released what it calls fatwa -- a legal opinion that the council issues. These fatwas usually revolve around Islamic laws as well as rules in Muslims’ daily lives.

In 2023, the MUI issued a fatwa that declared any support for Israel’s aggression in Palestine is haram or forbidden by Islamic law. The MUI also encouraged people to avoid using goods affiliated with pro-Israel businesses.

Earlier this year, MUI issued another fatwa to prioritize domestically produced goods to bolster Indonesia’s economy and prevent the use of Israeli products.

The council has also listed the criteria of products that should be boycotted, namely products from companies whose shares are controlled by foreign companies with business ties to Israel.