The Iranian transplant programme: comment from an Islamic perspective

There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world. Islam is one of the fastest growing religions and now constitutes the second or third religion in the USA and many European countries. Islamic countries have differing economic status and per capita income and this has its impact on the renal replacement therapy provided (Table 1 w1x), as it is an expensive mode of treatment. The success of transplantation activities in Islamic countries is only partly related to the economic situation. Other factors involved include (a) religious fatwas, (b) public outlooks and views, (c) the medical expertise and motivation available, and (d) the existing systems and laws.