Saudi passive smokers are starting a new wake-up campaign to fight smoking in public places by supporting anti-smoking organizations and the efforts of the Ministry of Health to create a smoke-free society. As the habit has been found to be growing in the society, passive Saudi smokers are supporting Kafa, an anti-smoking charity organization to live in a smoke-free environment. “During the last couple of years, more and more people have developed this habit and smoking is increasingly becoming a phenomenon. It has now become imperative that we should educate the smokers about the negative effects of smoking on the society,” said Raniya Bogdahdi, a 35-year-old housewife. Abdullah Bin Hassan Soruji from the anti-smoking organization “Kafa” said there was a need to develop a mechanism to activate the rights of non-smokers in public places. “Kafa” aims to spread awareness among members of the community and prevent young men and women from taking up smoking or using drugs. Many young men and women in Jeddah have started to realize the damage to health associated with passive smoking. “Second-hand smoking may look as though it is harmless but after years of passive smoking a person's health really starts to suffer,” said Nawaf Jamjoom. According to Azza Abu Bakr, a sociologist from king Abdulaziz University, the society will accept the need to stop smoking if there was a relentless pressure from all segments of the society. “A vast segment of the society has taken to smoking in a short period of time. An equally short time is required for them to stop smoking provided they are made aware of the real dangers to their health,” said Abu Bakr. At a recent meeting, the National Society for Human Rights and “Kafa” have approved the formation of a committee to draft a letter to the Shoura Council to activate anti-smoking regulations with the cooperation of various civic organizations to protect the passive smoker's right in the society. “We should penalize those who do not implement the rules and regulations of banning smoking and all that should be under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Interior,” said Suhila Zain Al-Abedeen from the National Society for Human Rights. The meeting stressed on the importance of establishing fines for offenders to be activated in earnest to reduce the risk of passive smoking as well as helping smokers quit smoking gradually. Advocates for rights of non-smokers including representatives from the Ministry of Health, Jeddah Municipal Council, the Technical and Vocational Training Council, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, police, drug control department took part in the meeting.
