RIYADH, 14 January 2004 — Expatriate women beggars have become a menace to Haj pilgrims on the streets of Makkah. These women, aged 30 to 50, carry babies in their arms and obstruct the pilgrims as they go to pray or to shop in the markets. Many of these women come from Sudan, Yemen and Pakistan.
They are allegedly part of a racket organized by both local and foreign agents. The women enter the country on Umrah visas before the Haj and remain when Haj is over. Not realizing how the beggars operate, pilgrims hand out charity generously.
A shopkeeper in Makkah who is from Lahore told Arab News that the women came to the Kingdom long before the Haj season. He pointed out that they also block the entrance to shopping malls till they get their share of alms.
Arab News investigations further revealed that each of the women collects from SR600 to SR800 a day from pilgrims. The money is then handed over to the head of the gang — a woman — who waits for them at a pre-determined point after Zuhr and Isha prayers. The same woman also meets the beggars to give them part of the money at specified times. Groups of beggars are assigned different areas to operate in during the season and they receive clear instructions on how they should evade the police and security personnel.
Pakistan’s Ambassador Abdul Aziz Mirza told Arab News that he too had heard these stories. He added that he would lend his full support in apprehending these criminals who are responsible for the menace which is not only an abhorrent practice from the religious point of view but also brings a bad name to the country. “These beggars also resort to petty theft in the holy cities,” he added.
