TABUK: Residents of Tabuk have appealed to the authorities to step up efforts to tackle the number of beggars at traffic lights and road junctions in the city, saying the practice constitutes the “exploitation of the charitable nature of Saudi society”. “What they do practically amounts to blackmail,” said Fahd Al-Enizi. “They are abusing people's good nature, and there are women who use children to try and gain more sympathy from people. The authorities need to do something about it as it only seems to be on the increase.” He suggested that the beggars, who consist mostly of women, are actually run by “begging networks”. “The issues need to be tackled. There are some women who would appear to have complete control of certain sites as if it were their property. They stop other people going there and sometimes you can see fights over territory.” Abdullah Al-Shehri said that at traffic lights near his office he is frequently hassled by women often accompanied by children. “Sometimes they claim they can't walk,” he said. “Sometimes they even dare to knock on your window when it's closed and don't go away until you give them something. The authorities should arrest these people and if it is confirmed they are genuine beggars then they should be handed over to a charity. The others, if they are Saudis, should be taken to court, or deported if they are foreigners.” Psychologist Umm Ahmad urges the public not to give in to their emotions. “We can't rule out that there may be organized begging networks behind it all, using women with whom the public are more likely to sympathize than men,” she said. “The same goal is sought by women who carry children with them, sometimes even infant children. We all need to work together to save these women and children from being exploited for money.” Muhammad Al-Balawi, a sociologist, said that many foreigners found begging are in possession of medical documents or papers declaring insolvency in order to “abuse the good nature of society”. “Many of them are not in need and only engage in these practices to make money, and what we have been seeing recently in terms of women and children begging is all to play on people's emotions,” he said. “Some countries have criminalized the exploitation of children in this way, and efforts need to be increased across the board to put an end to it.” Al-Balawi said that Saudi Arabia had enough charities and humanitarian organizations to take care of those genuinely in need. “They offer them help in accordance with set rules and conditions to ensure that the aid gets to those who truly need it,” he said.
