The problem of beggars is a global one. It is not limited to any single country or to only impoverished nations, but is spread to almost every part of the world. Beggary is a major challenge to Saudi Arabia, particularly during Ramadan. Beggars are seen in every city, using every trick up their sleeves to gain public sympathy. They are mostly con artists, competing with one another, seeking money for food and even for imaginary medical treatment. This is a phenomenon that adversely affects the image of the cities in the Kingdom, and even deprives people in real need from getting public help. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh has urged the traffic police to prevent beggars from begging at traffic lights. He has underlined the important role of the Anti-Begging Committee in fighting against this unhealthy trend. He said the beggars are "liars and manipulators." They should not be given any money and instead people should try to prevent them from begging, he said in the Fatawa program broadcast on Channel One. Serious measures need to be taken to stem this growing menace. There is even the threat of increased crime if this problem continues unchecked. There are already specialized centers which work to prevent begging. There are even laws against those who promote it. But they need to be implemented stringently with the help of charity organizations. Cross-border begging has only added to the problem. There are pilgrims who deliberately delay their departure after Haj and Umrah to beg on the streets. Unfortunately, there are people who show sympathy towards them. They should realize that begging is a dangerous disease that can eat at the roots of society and damage its cultural image. Saudi Arabia has been taking steps to eradicate this disease. But it is a tall task, particularly when it has turned into a lucrative profession, often run by organized gangs. A study by Dr Musaid Al-Hadithi, a social science researcher at the King Saud University, has revealed that Jeddah has the highest number of beggars arrested, accounting for 33 percent of the total in the Kingdom. The study, titled "Phenomenon of Begging and its Social, Economic and Security Implications in Saudi Arabia," further says that Makkah accounts for 25.3 percent, followed by Riyadh, 19.4 percent, and Madinah, 16.5 percent. The lowest number of beggars in the Kingdom is in Dammam with just four percent. According to another research published by the Islamic Studies journal of the Ministry Of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, 24.6 percent of the beggars are in the age group of 16 and 25, and 22.5 percent are 46 and above. The study has revealed that most of them beg around markets, traffic lights, mosques, and busy footpaths, or go door-to-door seeking arms. A fairly new form of deception is to present a decent look and narrate a sob story of them being university students, suffering from a chronic disease. The unsuspecting victim parts with his money for ‘treatment', mistakenly thinking he has done a good deed for humanity. Another common ploy adopted by women beggars is to use children as a front to beg. They often remain hidden in the background to avoid getting caught during anti-begging drives. Such exploitation of children is a violation under two provisions of the law. One relates to beggary and the other to trafficking in children. Agencies in the Kingdom, particularly in Makkah, have intensified their efforts to address this problem. They are seeking cooperation from Haj and Umrah operators in various parts of the world to thoroughly scrutinize applicants to ensure their credibility as genuine pilgrims.
