Different courts in Makkah and Jeddah have sentenced pickpockets to different jail terms and lashes for targeting vulnerable pilgrims and worshippers inside the Grand Mosque. A court in Makkah sentenced a young pickpocket for stealing in the Grand Mosque to two years and 360 lashes. The young boy was found guilty of stealing cell phones and purses inside the Mosque. Another juvenile pickpocket was sentenced to six months and 200 lashes after he was convicted of theft inside Haram. A Nigerian juvenile was also sentenced to one year and 300 lashes for stealing pilgrims during circumambulation (Tawaf) around the Ka'bah. Court is now looking into the case of Issam, a 16-year-old Yemeni boy, on charges of stealing a purse from a pilgrim inside the Grand Mosque. Hasan, 17, is still being tried and a verdict is expected to be issued against him in the next few days. He was accused of stealing in the Haram too. All the accused juveniles will spend their term in a juvenile correctional facility where they will be provided with education, health care, and counseling. - Okaz __
