Yemen’s minister of religious endowments on Wednesday called on Al-Azhar to issue a religious edict that bans using the narcotic qat plant.
“Yemeni society suffers several problems, one of which is the prevalence of qat usage, which greatly harms society,” Hamoud al-Hattar said during his meeting with Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb in Cairo.
Hattar called on the Islamic Research Academy to consider the issue and release a verdict that clarifies the Islamic stance on qat.
Tayyeb asked Hattar to send more information to the academy so it could study the issue.
Chewing qat leaves, which have a stimulant effect, is a widespread practice in Yemen.
Edited translation from MENA
