Catching the Khat and Banning It

[Spursman]

UK– Baroness Sayeeda Warsi was born and educated in the U.K., and moved on to become a politician for the Conservative Party, U.K. and a lawyer. In her struggle for racial justice, she has taken on many other issues, including practices that are unhealthy for the British Muslim community. In the following, Baroness Warsi speaks on the consumption of Khat, which is a drug.
* * *

"In politics it is easy to become trapped in a Westminster bubble. That’s why it’s important to keep talking to people from a wide range of communities, to keep challenging your own perceptions, and opening yourself to new ideas.

"Since my appointment as Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion, I have heard from a wide variety of people who have come forward about one issue in particular.

"As many readers may know, khat is a drug traditionally used by East African and Middle Eastern communities, mainly by men, and mainly as a part of celebrations like weddings. Chewing khat is said to be a social and cultural activity which enhances social interaction.

"Catha edulis, to use its Latin name, is grown in North Africa, and chewed in leaf form. It is a stimulant which suppresses the appetite and induces a mildly euphoric state. Its long term effects are far more sinister. It is responsible for a catalogue of medical problems, including mouth cancer and mental illness, as well as cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, endocrine and genito-urinary disorders.
Like an amphetamine, it is addictive. Users become unable to focus on anything except their next hit, spending all their money on the drug and ignoring their families. When people ask why the Somali community, for example, has high rates of unemployment and low rates of academic achievement, the answer can in part be found in khat.

"I met Abukar, a North London man who spent four years as an addict.

“I didn’t care about anything except my khat. I chewed it all day and all night. I couldn’t get a job because all I thought about was this drug,” he said. “It took a knife to knock some sense into my head and show me how foolish I was.”

"Its impact on the women in these communities is even more pronounced. Faisa Mohamed, the Chair of the Bromley-based Somali Well Women Project, has articulated a similar message.

“Back home, men were the breadwinners, but when they came to Britain without jobs they took up khat, and now it has become an addiction. They chew it all night and during the day they can’t do anything. Women are going out to work, taking the children to school, doing the shopping and the men are doing nothing but chewing,” she said.


We met young Somalis who said, “They say you should respect your elders. But how can I respect them when they sit around chewing drugs all day?”

"This is a drug that is beginning to tear apart the social fabric of a section of our diverse society. And it is legal in Britain. Khat can be bought legally in Britain from places like Paddington Market with no restriction on the age of the purchaser. You can buy bunches for about £3 in small shops all over the country. About 7 tonnes of fresh khat passes through Heathrow airport alone each week.

In the US, smuggling khat carries the same sentence as smuggling heroin. It is banned in Canada. In Saudi Arabia khat cultivation and consumption are forbidden and the ban is strictly enforced. It is also banned in Germany, France, Spain, Denmark and Norway, among others. Why then is it legal here?

"In February 2005, the Government looked at classifying khat during the passage of the Drugs Act 2005. Even one of Labor's own MPs, Mike Gapes, said that khat was “causing havoc within the Somali community.”

"The Government looked at the evidence, but decided that because “the prevalence of the drug in the UK is relatively low,” it did not need to become a controlled substance.

They chose to hide behind a veil of multiculturalism and ignored all the evidence.
Even though people from within the East African community called for action to be taken, they hid behind cultural sensitivity and took the cowardly route. Yet, in our country we all agree that forced marriages and domestic violence are a disgrace and that they have no place in 21st century Britain. On issues like khat, we have to be just as honest.

"Cohesive communities will only be achieved when all communities are treated equally under the rule of law irrespective of their background.
Abukar now campaigns to ban khat.

“I see myself as a member of British society,” he said. “I want to integrate. But then I see how this drug affects our children. I see our women suffering in silence. This is the biggest barrier to integration for us.”

So when people have suggested to me that politicians should leave this issue alone because it is a cultural issue, I refuse.
When any section of society is under threat, affected or underachieving, we must all stand up. We must never shirk our responsibility to protect communities and we must always afford the same protection to all people on these isles.

We must never fail to take action on issues like khat because ‘the prevalence of the drug in the UK is relatively low’. That is why a future Conservative Government would legislate to make khat a classified drug.


http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Sate ... 3871621093

[Cali_Gaab]

Khat is not the problem, the problem lies within the individuals who have no self control.

[HELWAA]

Qashinkaas ba somali dilay.

[Cali_Gaab]

Qashinkaas ba somali dilay.

No, Soomaalida ayaa dilay qaadka.

[surrender]

im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned!

[HELWAA]

Qashinkaas ba somali dilay.

No, Soomaalida ayaa dilay qaadka.

jaadko wa ka reero burburiyey wayaan ee furitaanka badiyey.Bal qurunkan maxaad ka heshan cunistiisa?

[Cali_Gaab]

im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned! im hope it gets banned!

You want them to take up Jack Daniels
Atleast a marqaan husband can make love to his wife while being intoxicated, for a short time span perhaps, but will still manage to penetrate.

A drunk husband will not be able to make love to his wife, he might penetrate the house pet or futada

Think clearly of what you're wishing for darling.

[Cali_Gaab]

Helwa, does alcohol break up every family? No it doesn't!

It only destroys those who abuse it, nothing wrong with moderate use.
Lets not blow things out of proportion.

[Voltage]

When people ask why the Somali community, for example, has high rates of unemployment and low rates of academic achievement, the answer can in part be found in khat.

Damn she put the worthless British Somali community on blast.

[HELWAA]

Cali gaab

we both know the ugly truth about jaad and why most wives leave jaad chwers

Atleast a marqaan husband can make love to his wife while being intoxicated, for a short time span perhaps, but will still manage to penetrate.

You kiding me right?...plz stop lying to these kids.....make love to his wife kuye....can he even get it up horta?..yaa saatir.

A man who chew doesnt need his wife huuno by the time he is finish with his jaad session he is already dead.......impotent !!!!!!!

[Jamac_Yare]

[youtube]HtRX3lQlGTk&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]fkZEhMAy3yA&feature=fvw[/youtube]

[abdikarim86]

helwaa jaad is always gonna be with us

its a social thing ..just like how gaaladu socialise with khamri
we somalis socialise with jaad

[Cali_Gaab]

Helwa you are so wrong, niinka marku qaadka cunno ayuu kacsiga ugu daran yahay walahi.
Weapon of mass destruction ayuu noqda, ilaa iyo aroorta na qooraha maba dego.
Wale kii ku guursan doono sii wacan ayuu dhabarka kaa kala jibin doona, wale inaanad mar dambe istaagi kareyn.

[HELWAA]

Abdikarim

So you're telling me men can only socialise with eachother by taking drugs ileyen jaadko waa darooge?

Aw gaabo

Maad beenta iska daýsid huuno oo runta iska sheegtid inaad mesha waxba ku hayn.That shit will destroy ur body walle...now you're young..let see about few yrs.

[abdikarim86]

Abdikarim

So you're telling me men can only socialise with eachother by taking drugs ileyen jaadko waa darooge?

Aw gaabo

Maad beenta iska daýsid huuno oo runta iska sheegtid inaad mesha waxba ku hayn.That shit will destroy ur body walle...now you're young..let see about few yrs.

aren't most things people socialise over drugs? even things like coffee and tea

i'm not saying its right ....am just saying why jaad will always be with us