MAKKAH – People of different cultures and backgrounds throng Makkah's Souq Al-Juma (Friday Market), located next to Al-Mansour Bridge, to snap up bargain electrical appliances, accessories, cheap sundry items, cell phones, used clothes and even food items. While the market provides a platform to both traders and customers to do business, it has also courted controversy for facilitating the trade of goods of questionable origins. Some residents claim stolen goods are openly sold in parts of the Souq and many Makkah residents have resorted to calling it “Souq Al-Haramiyah” or Thieves' Market, Al-Madinah Arabic daily reported. The Souq sees a flurry of activity on Thursdays and Fridays and with government supervision nearly absent – residents say the Makkah Passport Department and Municipality rarely visit the market — violators are free to peddle stolen goods or food items that are near or past their expiry dates. The paper's newsmen toured the market and met several customers and sellers who candidly spoke about illegal activities that take place there and how they can be stopped. Customer Amm Abdoh said the old market is being exploited by overstayers who, although easily identifiable, are not arrested by authorities. “This is a great market but it is being wrongly used by overstayers and other illegal expatriates who often sell goods of unknown origins. Though easy to find in the market, the authorities haven't done anything to stop them and this has given the market a bad name in Makkah circles,” he said. Muhammad Shawkat and Hashim Ahmad, customers who frequently visit the market, said its central location has made it a favorite for Makkah residents especially those seeking to buy electrical appliances at a bargain. When told they could be buying stolen goods, both men lashed out at authorities for not doing more to curb illegal activities. “Yes, the goods here are very cheap compared to prices in most shops but the market is on a main street, if illegal activities are going on, then why don't the authorities do something instead of allowing people to hawk stolen goods in broad daylight?” said Shawkat while adding that customers are not to blame. People who live close to the Souq said it poses a danger to neighboring districts as illegal aliens who peddle their goods there, take up residence in nearby buildings. For Saudi national Muhammed Al-Jizani, the results of inaction could be dire. “It is strange that the Souq has been left like this without the concerned authorities taking any action. They should launch a campaign to eradicate all illegal activities and violations in the market. “If matters continue unabated in the market, this might result in the market being used for matters that threaten the security of the country,” he said without elaborating. Fawzi Muhammad Noor Al-Hashimi, district chief (Umdah) of Al-Mansour District, said he has written a letter to authorities about the illegal activities going on in the market and while action has been taken several times, overstayers always find a way to return. “Numerous campaigns have been carried out by Ajyad Municipality and hundreds of goods were confiscated but as soon as municipality inspectors leave and the situation calms down, it's business as usual for overstayers. “The solution is for other government departments to get involved and arrest and deport the overstayers. Otherwise, they will keep coming back,” he said.
