Khaled was honored for his televised anti-smoking campaign

By Ayman El-Masry, IOL Correspondent

BEIRUT, June 6 (IslamOnline.net) – The World Health Organization (WHO) honored a prominent Muslim preacher with a prestigious award in recognition of his anti-smoking televised campaign.

Amr Khaled, whose TV religious programs have attracted millions from over the world, was given the award by Hussein Al-Jazairy, WHO Middle East regional office director, in a ceremony held in Beirut on Saturday, June 5.

Al-Jazairy praised Khaled as an "enlightened preacher" who devoted part of his time and efforts to "fight smoking and raise awareness among women and youth – the two age groups mostly targeted by tobacco companies."

The Egyptian preacher, who left for London  in 2002 to study for his PHD, dedicated the award to his audience who gave heed to his calls and quit smoking as part of his "Say No To Five Narcotics" Campaign.

Khaled has received a four-year scholarship from the University of Wales to study the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

'Life-Makers'

Khaled said his "Life Makers" program, produced by ART satellite TV network, "is based on the idea that young people should break free from the shackles of irresponsibility, indifference and passivity."

The program proved a must-see success in Arab countries.

The biggest surprise was a handout titled "A Message to Smokers", which has been copied 762,000 times and distributed among the people, Khaled told IslamOnline.net after the WHO ceremony.

"Each one must have made a few photocopies of it as well. So, imagine the number of people this message has reached? This is a clear proof that we have the power and that we can benefit our countries."

Khaled said on his website that he received several messages from different universities in the Arab countries that the youth there distributed tapes carrying the same message in countries like Syria , the United Arab Emirates , Egypt and Morocco .

He recalled that the deputy director of the Faculty of Pharmacy in Alexandria University , Egypt , had banned smoking in the campus.

"This was prompted by the huge number of 'No Smoking' signs he found in the college."

Citing its many serious health and life hazards, Muslim scholars have concluded that smoking is Haram [prohibited].

New Projects

Khaled said that he would launch new campaigns in his program to address, inter alia, such social ills and unemployment.

Asked about a reported British government's plan to "win the hearts and minds" of young Muslims and address underlying causes feeding extremism, Khaled gave no definite answer.

The plan, released by The Sunday Times, had proposed moderate names like himself to help make the message across.

But Khaled said he only knew about the plan from the media, but maintained that its timing should be taken into account.

The same position was earlier held by several leading Muslim activists in London who suspected the move was meant for potential political gains by British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Labor before the upcoming elections.

Khaled denied being approached or contacted by British officials.

He made it clear that any decision on his part would taking into considerations the feelings of Arabs and Muslims vis-à-vis the actions of the British troops in occupied Iraq .

However, the Egyptian preacher maintained that he would not hesitate to assist in any action that would serve the interests of Muslims or even humanitarian causes in the west.