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Kashmir Mosques Expand Focus to Addiction, Suicide and Environment

Kashmir Mosques Expand Focus to Addiction, Suicide and Environment
Addiction, suicide, environment damage: Kashmir mosques to take up issues beyond religion · indianexpress.com

Mosques in Kashmir usually speak about religion.

Now, they will also discuss problems affecting people’s daily lives.

These problems include drug addiction, suicide, self-harm and damage to the environment.

Religious scholars from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh agreed on this plan.

Shia and Sunni clerics both took part in the meeting.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led the meeting.

He said young people are facing more emotional distress and self-harm.

He believes mosques can use their trusted position to help the community respond regularly.

Key facts

Main decision
Kashmir mosques will address social and environmental issues in addition to religious matters.
Issues identified
Drug addiction, suicide, self-harm, emotional distress and environmental degradation.
Meeting participants
Religious scholars and clerics from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Religious representation
The meeting included clerics from across the Shia-Sunni divide.
Meeting leader
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Valley’s chief cleric.
Platform emphasized
Mosques and their mimbar, or pulpit, were described as having unique reach and influence in society.

Quotes

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Valley chief cleric who headed the meeting of religious scholars

“We are witnessing an increase in self-harm and emotional distress among young people, and the steady degradation of our environment. These are no longer issues that can be left only for the government (to tackle) or occasional seminars. They require a sustained social response.”
indianexpress.com
“The mosque and the mimbar (pulpit) have a unique reach and influence in our society and the ulema (scholars) have a responsibility to use that platform constructively.”
indianexpress.com

Sources

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