A branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, has reportedly issued a fatwa to ban Muslims from watching a movie titled "Suster Keramas" ("The Hair-Washing Nurse"), which stars a Japanese porn star, Rin Sakuragi, in the leading role.

The movie's producer, Ody Mulya, said he was shocked when he heard about the ban. The horror movie is based on an allegedly true story of the ghost of a nurse whose hair is always wet, as if she had just washed it, he told Metro TV.

Ody said he had to use a foreign actress because it was difficult to find a local actress who was willing to play the part.

On Tuesday, Ody arrived in Samarinda to meet the local MUI chairman, KH Zaini Naim, to seek an explanation as to why a fatwa had been placed on his film.

"I am in Samarinda to build friendship with local ulemas and ask them the reasons why they have banned my movie," Ody said.

"I understand the MUI chairman's reasons for rejecting the movie but he said he did not have the right to ban the movie from playing in theaters. He said he's just trying to give a moral suggestion to public. I already explained to him that there is no porn elements in the movie," he added.

Ody said that the only steamy scene in the movie was when a male actor fantasized about a Japanese woman he had just met.

"The movie is not at all pornographic. The steamy scene in it is just to visualize a young man's fantasy who is obsessed after he saw a Japanese woman. So we hope the public is not sceptical before they watch the movie," he said.

"Suster Keramas" will be released in Indonesian cinemas on December 31. It was made by production house Maxima Productions, which sparked controversy earlier this year when it tried to bring another Japanese porn star, Maria Ozawa, better known as Miyabi, to the country to appear in a comedy film.

The MUI has not yet issued a statement on the reported fatwa.