SOMALIS COMPLAIN OF POLICE SEARCHES

Leaders of Toronto's Somali community plan to meet with police tomorrow to
complain about a crackdown on their use of khat, a leaf that produces a
stimulant effect when chewed.

More than 50 Somalis met yesterday to discuss fears that cultural bias is
at the root of the escalating conflict with police.

Recently, houses have been searched and some Somalis even hurt in
altercations with police during arrests, said Farah Khayre, executive
director of the Association of Somali Service Agencies.

Community leaders and alleged victims acknowledged that no formal
complaints have yet been made.

Khat is the leaf of an evergreen shrub native to East Africa. It was placed
on Canada's controlled substances list in early 1998 and it is a criminal
offence to possess it.

"In our opinion, it is a cultural bias," Khayre said, as he chaired the
meeting to document cases. 'It doesn't lead to any social crime."

Community worker Jibril Mohamud said the problem has arisen because khat
was only recently listed as a controlled substance and many Somalis didn't
realize the laws had changed. In Britain, he said, it is sold in local stores.

Somalis claim that most of the incidents have been occurring in the former
cities of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough.

Police said yesterday they were unaware of the complaints and referred
queries to drug squad officers, who weren't on duty last night.

Most of the incidents were reported by Somalis living in the Lawrence
Ave.-Weston Rd. area, according to people who spoke at yesterday's meeting.