Beggars may soon find themselves facing legal action in the Qassim region following a new official order to combat this increasing phenomenon. The move was taken during a meeting Tuesday of the region's government, headed by Prince Faisal Bin Bandar, the Emir of Qassim. Beggars found on the streets, near shopping malls or at mosques will first be warned. If they fail to heed the warning, the police will arrest them. They will then be investigated by the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution in preparation for a court trial. During the meeting, the Emir of the region instructed government offices to first guide beggars to the concerned government agencies and charity organizations for help and rehabilitation, said Fahd Al-Mutlaq, director of the Social Affairs Office in Qassim. The move is to prevent people from making a business out of begging. It is also aimed at breaking up groups of criminals who use children to beg on the streets, he said. Begging has grown in the absence of a system of punishment. “There is no law yet to punish beggars,” he added. The Islamic Affairs office in Qassim has called on imams to prevent beggars from bothering worshippers and to report them to the police.
