Admin Posted June 21, 2014 Hundreds of people, both for and against the banning of the drug khat, filled the streets of Harlesden this afternoon trying to get their voices heard.Brent police hosted an awareness day to let regular khat users and dealers know about the drug becoming illegal as of June 24.Khat is a drug, mainly used in the Somalian community, it is a green leafed shrub and sells at about £4 a bunch but only remains potent for a few days after picked.The new ban has created mixed views among the communities in Brent, some are pleased to see it go, others are not. Somalis in Southall warned earlier this week thatkhat users might turn to alcohol following the ban.The Sunrise cafe in Church Road, Harlesden used to be a Khat cafe, the new owners have converted it to a regular cafe, owner Ubah Nur said: "I believe the community will profit in a positive way from the ban, I do not believe that people need to use khat. The majority of the community will accept the new law, they do not want to pay fines. You can socialise from so many different ways, you do not need to use it."Khat is strongest when the fresh leaves are chewed but can also be made into a tea or chewable paste.Loula Ofleh is against the ban coming into action, she owns a cafe in Church Road, at the back of the shop there is an area used only for khat users. She said: "This ban will affect the life of everyone here, I do not know what to do, it will definitely affect my business, the business is good at the moment, I am now worried, all my family are in the area and I have been here for three years, it has always worked well." Loula Ofleh owns a cafe in Church Road, here, she is stood at the back of her shop in the area men come and chew on Khat, she is against the ban. A protester on the street, Mohamed Guled, 34, said: "I used to use it all the time, but I have given up, it messed me up. I hate it now I think it should be banned, it is not a good thing and it is destroying our community."Hussein Hersi works at The Unity Centre in Harlesden, he is not a khat user but is against the ban coming into action, he said: "I think it will tear up the community, it is a cultural thing, it will make people very angry and it is going to ruin so many people's businesses. It will affect a lot of people."The drug will be made class C and police are warning if users are caught with it, you could spend up to two years in prison.Superintendent, Simon Rose from Brent Police attended the awareness day, he told the Observer: "Khat is going to be banned as a Class C drug, obviously we are aware it is consumed by mainly the Somali and Yemeni community, it has been legal in the UK for a long time, so it is a big change."We have been working with the community to explain the implications of the ban and helping them to prepare. The whole effort is to prevent people coming into contact with the police with the possession of khat after the ban." A man walks through the hustle and bustle with a bag of Khat in his hand. For confidential help and advice for khat users and families, contact 0800 107 1754. Business support for those affected by the ban contact khatsupport@brent.gov.ukhttp://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/hundreds-protest-against-new-ban-7302717 http://www.somaliaonline.com/khat-ban-protesters-run-riot-in-the-streets-of-harlesden-trying-to-get-their-voices-heard/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bluelicious Posted June 23, 2014 About time that shit got banned for good, well done to the Brits. Men who chew khat are such a big turn off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha Blondy Posted June 25, 2014 The last marqaan London, UK (HOL) -- As Ahmed (not his real name) walked home from his local marfish in Ealing, West London at 11.55pm last night he was in a mixed mood. As of 12am today Khat in the UK is officially banned and a class C drug. Anyone using it, selling it or supplying it will be breaking the law and would be dealt with in accordance with the seriousness of their crimes with supplying been the most serious offence which carries a 14 year prison sentence. The British Prime Minister (PM), writing exclusively for Hiiraan Online, argued that the decision to ban khat was based on the destructive social impact it has on families and society as a whole and that it was widely supported by the Somali community which had been asking for this for years. David Cameron argued that khat affected communities like the Somalis in the UK blamed the drug for “family breakdown, unemployment, and debt and crimes links to the global illicit drugs trade.” As a result of this concern his government had decided “enough was enough” and acted swiftly towards banning it. The British PM wrote that the action of banning Khat shows that his government, which is also committed to developing Somalia as a nation too and keeping it on the global agenda, “cares about, and listens to, our British Somali community.” Just before 12am this morning when the Khat ban came into legal affect Ahmed had spat out the khat into a bin near a Somali restaurant, gargled his mouth with bottled water and sat in the restaurant to contemplate the banning of the drug he had enjoyed since arriving in the UK in 1999. “This was the last mirqaan night for me because I have to stop now. I don’t agree with ban and I don’t like David Cameron but we have to obey the law,” said Ahmed who did not want his real name revealed. “I am law abiding person and I have a job I can lose if I chew khat again but some men are still in the marfish chewing and they are now criminals because it is after midnight.” Chief Constable Andy Bliss, the lead Police officer in the Khat strategy, made it clear in his exclusive statement to Hiiraan Online that “Policing efforts will focus on those individuals who choose to import, export or supply khat after the Ban is implemented.” He went on to write that: “The police approach is based on a policy of proportionate escalation. As part of this approach, the Government has introduced a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) as a further option for dealing with khat possession offences. This will be at the lower level fine, unlike the cannabis PND which is at the higher level. This differentiates between cannabis as a Class B drug and khat as a Class C drug.” Somali community leaders all over the UK have urged Khat users over many meetings held before the ban to obey the law and to seek support from the available and qualified agencies to help with health and social issues after the ban. On the other hand, they also pleaded with the public service providers in health, education and employment to respond to the needs of their community in a culturally sensitive way so as to ascertain the best possible outcomes for them. HOL English News Desk ------- http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2014/Jun/55326/the_last_marqaan.aspx#sthash.anirVDpj.EaahSqK1.dpuf ----- funny article. lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tallaabo Posted June 25, 2014 They are too late to protest now. Somalis do not understand what protesting means. These intoxicated drug addicts think that making unnecessary noise and traffic jam in the streets in the very last hour would alter the decision taken by the government!! Why did they not protest when the deliberations about the ban were being made in parliament months ago? Why did they not support their Kenyan drug dealers when they came to the UK to lobby parliament? Somalis lived in this great democratic country for decades now but unfortunately will never learn anything. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
