     Cawil | Unrecorded Date
I know that this is a topic that has been 'done to death' but I just can not help bringing it up again.
The thing is kat, qat or whatever it is called. This week the Swedes, apparently frustrated by the marginalization of Somalis, did a report on TV4 which has left behind a pretty bad picture of Somalis around here. Qat is illegal in Sweden where it is also classified as a narcotic. Qat chewers are therefore considered as substance abusers no less that crackheads.
My question is:
Do you think that it is time that we (Somalis) should start actively helping the police to clean up our neighbourhoods of this drug, the criminality that goes with it - including prostitution in all its subtle forms etc, or is qat an integral part of our culture and we should accept it with all its bad just like alcohol is in many countries? |
| wahab | Unrecorded Date
Done to death?! I don't think so. I don't think that it even has started seriously! The stuff is sold openly in göteborg, malmö and stockholm while the police stand by and do nothing. I don't think that this problem is giong away on its own. We have to do something. We are not going to let the youth be made hopeless and passive by a few unscrupulous smugglers who let greed come before the future of their own pelple to rule our lives! I suggest that we form organizations and plant a few people in every high rise building to keep an eye on the pushers and report them. We should meet our local politicians and push for harder sentences for peddlers as well as a way out for those who want to reconstruct their lives - I mean rehabilitation etc and help for the women who fall vitim to the absers. People are going to get hurt. Some will get behind bars, or even deported. But in the long run it is your and my children who are in the risk zone. It is for their sake that we should act now. We are a small and economically irrelevant group. Nobody will do nothing for us unless we take the initiative. A drug peddler is a drug peddler and nothing else. He belongs in jail, whether he is somali or not. When it comes down to it, I'd rather see a peddler wind up in jail than see my son stupified by chewing qat. I was an abuser myself so I know what i am talking about. And who says it is part of our culture? The stuff doesn't even grow in somali! |
| BADGIRL | Unrecorded Date
WAHAB/CAWIL....
I truely applaud you guys on discussing about this issue and also sharing your disgust like this. I honestly believe that Qaat should be eradicated from the somali community...People don't realise this but it is a number one killer in Somalia. Not only does it kill you morally,but culturally too. I wanna know how does a Somalian man expect to move forward if he is in a Marfish...whatever they call the Qaat areas.... How R we as a Nation going to get above the Poverty Line if we are all chewing that disgusting stuff...LIKE GOAT....
Well I agree with y'all 199%....I reckon the Police should be informed about the places where they are sold....then you will notice enough XAAWO/FARAX OO QAYLINAAYA...Markii meesha laga xero.LOL.......
PEACE |
| Anonymous | Unrecorded Date
A nine (9) year old was netted smuggling qaat by swedish police. The parents who were with the child at the time, disowned her.
I must say that iam ashamed to be somali today!!!!! |
| Anonymous | Unrecorded Date
I SAID THIS BEFORE AND EVERYONE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY. ITS TIME WE CLEANED UP. |
| Mr.Nomore kat | Unrecorded Date
Dear bro/sis,
I was just passing by, and i that think kat consumption is one of the most important challanges facing the somali communities to day. i myself reside in danmark and u ca´nt imagine how kat is destroying family lives, it hurts me alot to see every dag young somali boys being introduced to kat consumption. It is time to stand up and join hands against these drug dealers.
bye |
| Hanaan | Unrecorded Date
I agree with you all that Qat has a devastating impact on the well-being of the Somali community wherever they are. As a community, we have the capacities and abilities to eliminate the consumption of Qat by educating the vulnerable groups, forming clubs that support such groups by provinding them services such as sports and theatre. I do not believe that you informing the police in your area about anyone who is assumed to be chewing Mira will lead to effective solutions.
I believe that it will lead to distrust and conflict within the Somali community and that is the least thing that you guys want. My advise, do not turn against your own brother - but help him or her.
Change is possible through non-incarceration ways.
Salaam |
