Saudi Gazette report

DAMMAM — A number of women beggars roam the streets pretending to be Syrian refugees to elicit sympathy from the public. They claim that they have fled the conflict back home and are in need of money to buy food and medicine for their children, Al-Hayat newspaper reported.



These beggars are normally found outside shopping malls, restaurants and pharmacies but have recently been witnessed along expressways as well.



Rawan Al-Ghamdi, a citizen, said while she was shopping at a supermarket, a woman approached her with a full shopping cart and pleaded with her to pay for her groceries, claiming that she was a Syrian refugee and had no source of income.



Al-Ghamdi noted that as she had no way to verify the woman's claim, she refused to pay. She added that she was surprised when the woman herself paid the bill after she had left the store.



Al-Ghamdi said she saw the same woman again in the same store, begging customers to pay for groceries.



Aisha Al-Neaimi said a female beggar, who was trying to imitate a Syrian dialect, approached her for money to pay for medicines.



Al-Neaimi said it was obvious that the woman was not Syrian, but she felt sorry for her and gave her some money.



Acting Secretary-General of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) Khalid Al-Fakhri said there are those who exploit people's sentiments and goodwill to gain sympathy and support for activities that may include terrorism.



He pointed out that women who pretend to be Syrians cannot be criminalized unless someone submits a complaint to concerned authorities.



He explained that giving money to others in need is a personal choice, but it is much beneficial to give that money to charitable organizations, which will certainly give them to people who are actually in need.



A recent study showed that begging in the Kingdom has been on the rise over the past few years due to an increase in the number of infiltrators crossing the country's borders.



According to the study, the main reasons for begging are a high cost of living, unemployment, family circumstances, people's readiness to give and a lack of deterrence.



The study also cited weak monitoring by anti-beggary bodies, large numbers of illegal residents and organized beggary gangs.



The study pointed to several negative implications of begging, such as embezzlement, exploitation, theft, forgery, abductions of children, drugs and ethical and moral crimes.



Another serious repercussion from the phenomenon is the birth of illegitimate children. Female beggars are exploited by sexual predators who take them to abandoned houses in old city neighborhoods to commit immoral acts.



Begging also has negative economic impacts, the study noted.



Sheikh Qais Mubarak, member of the Board of Senior Ulema, said disguising one's identity is a serious crime.

He said giving money to beggars encourages them.



He said Muslims are obliged to pay obligatory Zakat and giving to the needy is a personal choice. The Qur'an ordains Muslims to pay Zakat to eight categories and giving Zakat money for other purposes is not permissible, he said.