SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq voiced grave concerns over the escalating drug addiction crisis in Kashmir, labeling it a national emergency.
In his Friday sermon at Jama Masjid in Srinagar, he highlighted the perilous spread of addiction, particularly among the youth, and called for urgent collective action to address this critical issue.
Drawing upon the Quran and Hadith, Mirwaiz emphasized the prohibition of intoxicants in Islam and their detrimental effects on individuals and society. He stressed that protecting human life is a divine duty, and combating the drug menace requires the unified efforts of the entire community.
Mirwaiz shared alarming statistics, revealing that 1.5 million young boys and girls in Jammu and Kashmir have fallen prey to addiction. He questioned the oversight of the drug supply chain in a high-security zone like Kashmir, urging authorities to take decisive measures to curb the supply of drugs. Without addressing the supply side, social initiatives, awareness programs, and rehabilitation efforts would remain ineffective.
He called on parents to remain vigilant and aware of their children’s activities and associations. He also appealed to all responsible members of society, including teachers, doctors, civil society members, masjid imams, scholars, NGOs, mohalla committees, and the government, to take this issue seriously and actively participate in its eradication. Mirwaiz highlighted the crucial role student bodies in schools, colleges, and universities can play in addressing this issue among the youth. He urged authorities to lift the ban on these organizations and allow their formation.
In his sermon, Mirwaiz also expressed deep concern over the condition of Kashmiri political prisoners, including the leadership. He criticized the continuous arrests of Kashmiris despite repeated appeals to the Government of India for their release. Citing a series of articles in a reputed national news portal, he detailed the shocking conditions faced by Kashmiri political prisoners, especially in Tihar Jail, during extreme heat, with overcrowded barracks, inadequate cooling, and harsh lighting.
Mirwaiz described these conditions as extremely inhumane and called for the humane treatment of these prisoners in accordance with international law on the rights of prisoners and prison manuals. He highlighted that many prisoners, booked under the stringent UAPA and PSA, have already served lengthy terms but continue to face delays in their cases and release. He appealed once again for their release, emphasizing the suffering of their health and their families due to these prolonged detentions.
Mirwaiz raises alarm over drug addiction crisis in Kashmir
