SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq has expressed strong outrage over the recent seizure of over 3,500 kilograms of rotten, unlabelled, and allegedly illegal meat by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) across Kashmir, calling it a “moral and religious betrayal” and demanding immediate legal action against those responsible.
Delivering the Friday sermon at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, the Mirwaiz condemned the scandal as zulm — a grave injustice — asserting that feeding people haram or hazardous food violates not only legal standards but also Islamic principles. “Those responsible must be held fully accountable and punished according to the law, without delay,” he said.
The FDA’s crackdown has sparked widespread alarm and anger among the public, with citizens questioning how such large-scale malpractice could have occurred without detection. “It is shocking that such malpractices were allowed to go on unchecked for so long. Where was the administration? How could this go unnoticed?” the Mirwaiz asked, citing the episode as a serious failure of regulatory oversight.
He further demanded that no packaged meat should be allowed into markets without proper labelling, verified cold storage certification, and halal authentication. He also raised concerns about the possibility that the meat might not be sourced from animals permissible under Islamic law, or worse, might constitute carrion (maytah), which is strictly forbidden in Islam.
“These are not merely health violations; they are violations of our religious boundaries and our shared values as a society,” he stressed.
Calling on the government to act swiftly and transparently, the Mirwaiz warned that the scandal reflected a deeper societal decay. “This crime exposes a moral collapse—where greed and profiteering override all ethical considerations, even at the cost of public health and religious transgression. That should concern all of us, particularly as Muslims,” he stated.
He also applauded the efforts of vigilant citizens whose timely action helped expose the malpractice. “I commend those who had the courage to bring this crime to light,” he said.
