Ponorogo – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued an edict demanding the government and House of Representatives pass a controversial pornography bill into law.

"We ulemas agree Indonesia must have an antipornography law... With us, there is no negotiation on this point," said Ma'ruf Amin, chairman of the MUI's fatwa commission.

The controversial bill, now being deliberated by the House of Representatives and government officials, has received its strongest support from some Muslim groups. The bill's opponents say its vague definition of pornography threatens freedom of expression and pluralism.

"We ulemas want strict punishment for violators of the future antipornography law," Amin said, adding that a moral police should be established once the bill became law.