Qat: the facts

by Miss A. Mohammed

Writing about the cultivation of Qat amongst Yemenis in Sheffield is like describing a national history. What distinguishes Yemenis from all other Arabs is the fact that they chew Qat. The plant is an alkaloid stimulant, which has similar effects to cannabis. 90% of Yemeni, and increasingly Somali, men in Sheffield chew Qat leaves as often as twice a week for a period lasting at least 5 hours. 

Because Qat has come to mean everything in Yemeni life, some amongst the poorer segments of society will willingly go without food in favour of buying Qat. If they choose not to chew Qat they are labelled as social outcasts within the community. In Yemen it is men who grow Qat, they harvest and sit up all night guarding it. With the exception of several female merchants it is men who market Qat and pocket the proceeds of its sales. 

In Sheffield, when they have their gathering, each man crouches by himself in the corner, shaping and building his castle in the air. They can do wonders under the impact of Qat. Some become political, social or economic analysts and some become scientists or philosophers. On a positive note, Qat does bring people together and maybe we need to explore ways these people can come together to do more constructive things. 

The majority of Yemeni women see this tradition as futile. Both the men’s time and money could be spent on more beneficial activities to aid their family or community. Many argue that this is an old tradition but even if that were so, harmful traditions must be thrown away for real developments to take place. Indeed many women are satisfied with merely cursing Qat; as no adequate policies or solutions can be applied to the problem. 

Medical effects include insomnia, raised blood pressure, increased heart rate, stomach irritation and mild depression after the effect has worn off. “Qat is the opium of our people. It is the green imam who rules over our republic. It is the key for everything and it is central to all our social occasions. It is the unexplainable that explains everything” 

There still remains a controversy over the eating of Qat amongst Yemenis. However with all the above information and facts we will let you make your own minds up about it.

Quick response

Dear Burngreave Messenger

I read the aricle on Qat and I like to reply to what Miss. A. Mohammed wrote.

Firstly; Qat has not become something that means everything in my life or in the life of the many Yemeni’s I know. I think when you, Miss. Mohammed written that article you must have written it from your own experiences and that is all it maybe because from the Yemeni’s I know, the ones who do eat Qat are either elders and maybe few of the immigrants from Yemen but as for many of us youths then sorry, but you made an assumption there. I myself don’t eat Qat, the many friends I know who are Yemeni’s don’t eat Qat, the workers I know such as Doctors, Teachers, Social Workers, Carers, Directors, Producers, Singers don’t eat Qat. To be honest…two of them do and that’s once every month due to them being Doctors! They are busy saving and helping lives instead of writing about them.

Secondly; if your husband or any of your male friends who don’t eat Qat as you said ‘become outcastes’ then it is due to their lack of confidence, langauage barriar in not being fluent in Arabic and they need to go out more instead of either fixing their cars or playing on their Nintendos..! That’s what are mosques for, cafes and Community Centres. They need to mingle more. We as Yemeni people do not outcaste any Yemeni. We actually respect the individual and no matter if he eats or don’t eat Qat we do not outcaste them. It is actually a ridiculous thing to even think we would do such a thing. It is due to their lack of commitment to socialise with their community which is the problem. Yemeni’s are friendly people and known to love to socialise with or without Qat and I socialise with so many without eating Qat.

Yemeni’s whether males or females do not need to chew Qat to be polictically aware or as you put it ‘build castles in the sky.’ Look around you Miss. A. Mohammed. I think your ignorance proceeds you. The Yemeni community are very active within their communities. They have worked hard through the age of steel works and invested in their communities, and their families or their children would not have flourished and finished their degrees. They have sacrificed much for their communities and so has my father for us as children of Yemen. The future generation would not have a bright future in England if our fathers just spent on Qat nor would we have been brough up healthy if we didn't have the best medication which we are thnkful to have in England. We have the Yemeni Economic Training centre that has given much support to me, many youths and our elders teaching English language, computer skills, advice on further education, help for the elderly when funds ate available or not. Walk around the Spital hill area Miss. Mohammed and you will see Yemeni’s opening business from Shops, Business Centres and computer companies in city Centre and Abbeydale Road. Go out side Sheffield and there are regurlar meetings organised by Yemeni’s with Council, Home Office, Racial Organisations, Education and other government officials to build for the Yemeni community in England for communication and integrating with other communities, and a better England.

I think you must have flew to Yemen itself and thought you gained some knowledge of Yemen and just wanted to write about it. If that is the case then you left quiet a lot out. The Yemeni’s are known for their contribution to Science, Mathematics, Science, Astronomy and many of them are Muslims. They a dream makers, entreprenurs. This is what you don’t see Miss. A. Mohammed. You did not research enough about the culture of Yemeni’s but picked on one small thing when there is the heritage, the rich culture and colours, the religion, and to label Yemeni’s as some men who just sit around building castles in the sky is an insult to the many Yemeni’s in Sheffield and around England, and world who are also Muslims. Muslims that do not touch alcohol or drugs of any kind.

Yes, you touched on some good points which knowing you, you found in newspaper or spoke to a minority but by saying Yemeni’s then you pointed your finger at the whole of the Yemeni community. Have you done any research on how many eat Qat? I doubt that you did. Qat is not the opium of the Yemeni Community and nor will it ever be. If it was we wouldn’t be marching through Sheffield City centre, London and rest of England against the war in Afghanistan! We wouldn't be a thriving community with so much to give! I see my community hard at work and they have done so much in such little time. The elders deserve more recognition and credit to what you gave them. Please, next time Miss. A. Mohammed, when you write about something happening within any community then do not generalise and point it at everyone within that community. I, not just as a Yemeni but as a Muslim took what you said as insult. I do not eat Qat. I do not sit around building castles in the sky or I wouldn’t have been successful in my field as a writer, singer and songwriter and nor would their been a YETC, Business run by Yemeni’s or Students passing their exams in Universities and colleges with flying colours against so many obstacles...and that is the Facts..!

Yours

Dark Angel