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Malaysia About To Bar Muslims From Practicing Yoga

By Howard M. Friedman

According to today's Brunei News, on Friday Malaysia's National Fatwa Council will issue a ruling barring Muslims in the country from practicing or teaching yoga. The country's Department of Islamic Development undertook a 6-month study of the practice after Zakaria Stapa of Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia's Islamic Studies Centre, said yoga could lead Muslims to deviate from Islamic teachings. Supporters of yoga, which has Hindu origins, say it can be practiced without religious content. An op-ed in today's Malaysia Star by a Muslim who practices yoga for relaxation and to control back pain takes strong issue with the proposed fatwa. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on November 02, 2008 (boomark / email).