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Moroccan officials close shisha cafes
 Authorities in Casablanca have shut down shisha cafes throughout the city after receiving several complaints during the holy month of Ramadan that the cafes promote vice and spread disease.Moroccan preacher sheikh Abdul-Bari al-Zamzami, a member of the Moroccan Scholars Association, told AlArabiya.net that the cafes were dens of vice and corruption. "Shisha cafes are a disgrace to the city and to all Morocco. They are a way to seduce minors and spread corruption," he said. Zamzami added that that nepotism has played a role in keeping the cafes open in spite of their negative influences and that he hoped the closure would extend beyond Ramadan. In addition to the personal health risks of smoking sihsha, which include lung cancer, shisha cafes have been linked to the increased prevalence of tuberculosis in several Arab countries. According to the World Health Organization regional office in Cairo, about 17 percent of TB cases in the eastern Mediterranean are attributable to smoking the water pipes. University professor and member of Casablanca city council Dr. Moustafa al-Haya told AlArabiya.net that he had been waiting for this decision for a long time, noting the close link between the rise in the number of cafes and the prevalence of tuberculosis in Casablanca. Recent statistics issued by the Ministry of Health indicate that Casablanca has the highest number of TB cases out of any Moroccan cities, with 25,562 cases reported in 2007 alone. The rate of infection was estimated at 82 cases for every 100,000. Haya added that in addition to health problems cafes encourage many ethical violations since men and women "mingle in a shameful way." Casablanca mayor Mohamed Sajed declined to comment on the decision to close the cafes. The controversy over shisha cafes started in the City Council where many members considered them hotbeds of indecency and accused many of its regulars of replacing tobacco with pot or other narcotics. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-25 |
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