Smoking ban in Iraq

Posted By Joshua Keating Friday, August 7, 2009 - 12:55 PM Share

Iraq's cabinet has announced that it plans to ban smoking in all public places, the first such law in the Middle East:
The stance is particularly aggressive — and perhaps unenforceable — especially in a nation where cigarettes sell for as little as 40 cents a pack and smoking in public areas and workplaces is widespread. But it coincides with the government’s attempts to improve living conditions here, like Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s order on Wednesday to remove blast walls from most of Baghdad within 40 days.
Given what else is on their plate, I would hope that Iraqi police won't be devoting a whole of their time to enforcing this. 
EXPLORE:MIDDLE EAST, IRAQ, PUBLIC HEALTH
 

FP REDER

9:52 PM ET

August 7, 2009

"the first such law in the

"the first such law in the Middle East"
Wrong - Israel and Jordan banned smoking in public places. Surely they constitute part of the Middle East.

 

Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.

Read More