Malaysian fatwa bans Muslim use of Botox

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A council of Muslim clerics in Malaysia has issued an order banning the use of the popular Botox injections for wrinkles, citing the use of pig-derived materials in the treatment, The New Straits Times reported.

The declaration by the National Fatwa Council does not carry the weight of law, though it would be considered sinful for Muslims — a majority in Malaysia — to violate the order. The fatwa allows an exception for medical uses, such as relieving pain associated with cerebral palsy. Botox, which is made from the toxin botulin, paralyzes facial muscles to get rid of wrinkles; it can also be used to stop small muscle spasms.

The New Straits Times said many people in Malaysia may go to other countries for their Botox injections anyway, and doctors in the country indicated that Muslims make up only a minority of their patients who come for the remedy.