Addiction, suicide, environment damage: Kashmir mosques to take up issues beyond religion

Kashmir's mosques plan to address issues beyond religious topics, including drug addiction, suicide, and environmental concerns. This shift in focus was agreed upon at a recent meeting of religious scholars from Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. The meeting, led by Valley chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, highlighted the increasing prevalence of self-harm and emotional distress among young people, as well as environmental degradation, which cannot solely be addressed by the government or occasional seminars.

Mirwaiz emphasized that mosques, with their unique reach and influence, have a responsibility to use their platform constructively to educate and mobilize society towards positive action. The scholars agreed to transform mosques and madrasas into community welfare centers, intending to use them as spaces for guidance, counseling, youth engagement, family support, and community welfare.

They also stressed the pulpit's role in countering social challenges, advocating for safe spaces where young people and families can openly discuss emotional distress and other personal issues without fear of stigma. Additionally, the scholars raised concerns about the impact of contradictory policies that promote alcohol in the name of tourism, which undermines efforts to protect young people from addiction.