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Join Date: 05 Mar 2015
Location:  Saudi ArabiaPosts: 85 |
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Beggars ‘part of organized crime groups’ |
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Beggars ‘part of organized crime groups’
JEDDAH: There are beggars in the country with links to criminal and terrorist groups operating in the Kingdom and abroad, a local publication reported Thursday. They raise money for these groups mostly during Ramadan, according to recent security studies, the report said. These people are largely illegal workers, or who have overstayed their Haj and Umrah visas. This confirms the warnings of the Ministry of Interior, which has advised members of the public not to give these people money in the streets, mosques and markets, the report said. The Interior Ministry is working with the Social Affairs Ministry to arrest male and female beggars at markets, traffic signals, mosques and other public places across the country. The daily operations include the police, traffic departments, Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, security patrols, Passport Department, and other special task forces. When beggars are arrested, the expatriates are referred to the Passport Department and citizens to social welfare offices, where their cases are studied for further action, the report said. Studies have shown that many beggars are now taking to social media to seek money, often providing a bank account number for whoever wants to donate. The authorities have appealed to citizens to report such behavior. إعلان The Social Affairs Ministry has repeatedly stated that all donations by philanthropists, individuals and institutions must be made through it and other credible organizations. Some of the solutions suggested to eradicate the begging phenomenon include providing the Social Affairs Ministry with a list of the account numbers of needy families. These can then be passed on to citizens who want to donate money. Recently, groups of Saudis formed small volunteer societies working under the supervision of their local imams collecting money, food and clothes for poor families, widows and orphans in their neighborhoods. Some voluntary bodies are raising money from the community to help release those imprisoned for failing to pay their debts, while others are involved in renovating or building new mosques. Source:arabnews http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/774356 |
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