RIYADH, 15 July 2006 — Large swathes of beggars are causing mayhem outside a cemetery in Riyadh by hanging around in groups asking for money from people attending funerals, Al-Watan daily reported.
Visitors at the Al-Oudah cemetery in Riyadh have complained to the municipal authorities that a high number of beggars, especially female ones, take up position on the sidewalks and entrances leading to the cemetery. When funerals arrive, the beggars crowd round people and cars causing traffic jams in and around the cemetery.
Security officials in Riyadh try dispersing the crowds but the beggars keep coming back especially in the afternoon after the Dhuhr and Asr prayers when most funerals take place.
The beggars try gaining sympathy for themselves from people by mentioning death. Children are also known to stand in front of cars forcing the drivers to give charity. Visitors to the cemetery complain that sometimes cars stop to give money and old clothes to elderly women sitting on the sidewalks.
People who use the cemetery have urged the authorities to deal with the situation saying that the beggars operate in gangs and that some of the money generated is used for illegal purposes like drugs and prostitution. One eyewitness said he has seen a minivan parked near the cemetery dropping off children and then leaving the area.
Many visitors at the cemetery are annoyed at the way the beggars insist on getting money and block the roads putting themselves and the lives of people around them in danger. They said that the authorities should find out whether these beggars are really in need.
