Categories
· Smokefree Policies
non-USA, by Country
· Iraq
|
BABYLON and Beyond
Jump to full article: Los Angeles Times blogs, 2009-08-07
Author: Liz Sly and Caesar Ahmed in Baghdad
Intro: With bombings and shootings still taking place on a daily basis, Iraq is not a country where people pay much heed to the health hazards of smoking.
So news that the government plans to introduce a stringent, Western-style anti-smoking law has been greeted with surprise, and considerable dismay by Iraqis accustomed to lighting up wherever and whenever they choose.
The draft law includes a ban on smoking in cafes, restaurants, clubs, and government and private offices, all places where life currently unfolds amid clouds of cigarette smoke. Penalties of $2,500 to $4,200 will be applied to violators.
"Maybe if we were leading normal lives I would consider giving up smoking," said Haidar Latif, 40, as he puffed on a cigarette in one of Baghdad's cafes. "But we are facing tough times. Our minds are tired and we need to smoke."
"Before they make such decisions, let them fix the services, the electricity, the water supply, and pave the streets,"
Jump to full article » |