.halal

Status:	Proposed
Manager:	Halalan Tayyiban Corp.
Type:	Generic
Category:	Culture
More information:

.halal is a proposed Niche TLD in ICANN's new gTLD program. It is intended to be an extension for the Islamic community looking for halal products and services. "Halal" means "lawful" in Arabic, and it is used to designate an object or action that is permissible in Islamic law, especially foods.The applicant is Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar, and they are using CoCCA for technical registry services.

The application is a community priority application. Halal (Arabic: حلال‎ ḥalāl, ʺlawfulʺ) is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law. However, given that there are a variety of Islamic sects, and that regional interpretations of the law vary widely, creating definitive and universal lists of what is halal is problematic. Still, many tenets of what is halal are widely accepted. Intended registrants extend to "manufacturers of soups, grains, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, prepared foods, and other products, as well as hotels, restaurants, airlines, hospitals, and other service providers."

"AGITSYS is founded, owned and managed by Muslim people. AGITSys uses the expertise of the Muslim technical men, and it is incorporated in Turkey, one of the countries with the majority of Muslim people (98% Muslims)...Registrations in the .HALAL will be restricted to 1) those who can produce a copy of a halal certificate demonstrating that the goods and services they provide meet the generally accepted hahal standard and⁄or 2) all goods and service providers headquartered and operating in Islamic countries as they are deemed halal by their ability to operate in an Islamic country."

The applicant has a number of endorsement letters from Halal associations, organizations, and authorities; many of these are Shia-identifying. The applicant has also applied for .shia, .pars, and .islam.

Objection

Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) filed an objection against the TLD.

The application recieved two GAC Early Warnings, from India and The United Arab Emirates. The warning system is noted as a strong recommendation on behalf of national governments to the ICANN Board that a given TLD application should be denied as it stands. Applicants are encouraged to work with objecting GAC members.

The UAE warning states that the applicant is a commercial entity trying to have exclusive rights over a religious term affecting a global population, and that their letters of community support and their own network account for only a small percentage of this global network. It recommends the applicant withdraw its application as it doesn't see it possible to adequately represent the Islamic community concerned about the halal issues. It notes that this string could be supported had a well regarded IGO applied for the string.

India's warning notes that the applicant needs stricter measures of security to ensure the validity of its services and registrants, and must demonstrate that it intends to follow India's codified Halal laws.

Top-Level Domain

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).