Calls for urgent government action, blames moral decay and regulatory failure
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD) Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq has expressed deep anguish over the recent seizure of over 3,500 kilograms of rotten, unlabelled, and possibly unlawful meat from various locations across Kashmir by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), calling it “a grave betrayal of public trust.”
Delivering the Friday sermon at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid, the Mirwaiz described the incident as zulm — a serious injustice — and emphasised the religious, legal, and ethical dimensions of the scandal.
“Feeding people haram or harmful food is zulm. It violates divine commandments, social contracts, and the law. Those involved must be strictly punished without delay,” he said.
He sharply criticised the failure of enforcement authorities, stating that the scale of the malpractice points to a deep lapse in regulatory oversight.
“This incident has shaken the trust of the people. It is shocking that such malpractice continued for so long without being noticed. Where was the administration all this time?” he questioned.
The Mirwaiz called for strict monitoring and urged authorities to ensure that no packaged meat is allowed in the market without mandatory labeling, verified cold storage information, and halal certification.
He also raised serious concerns about the origin of the meat.
“There are doubts among the public as to whether the seized meat was even from permissible animals or, worse, carrion (maytah), which is strictly prohibited in Islam,” he warned.
Highlighting the broader implications, the Mirwaiz said the issue reflects not only a public health and legal crisis but a deeper moral decay in society.
“While we demand accountability from the authorities, we must also reflect on ourselves as a society. Greed and profiteering have reached such levels that even sacred limits are being violated,” he said.
He concluded by commending the vigilant citizens whose actions led to the exposure of the scandal.
“I thank those who had the courage to uncover this shameful act. Their efforts are truly commendable(DD)
