Dubai: An anti-begging campaign launched by Dubai Municipality has led to the arrest of 69 female and male beggars since the beginning of Ramadan, the civic body said on Tuesday.
The campaigns are being held in cooperation with Dubai Police, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD).
Khalifa Hareb, the director of the Asset Management Department, said men working at the department’s Social Control Division are chasing down those individuals who take advantage of people’s compassion and sympathy, within the framework of “Fight Begging” campaign and in cooperation with the other departments.
“Daily campaigns are being conducted across all regions of the emirate, especially in trade zones such as Al Ras and Bur Dubai, as well as popular areas in Deira and Bur Dubai,” he stated in a press release.
Hareb said the municipality is carrying out this work from a purely national and religious perspective, based on orders and decisions to forbid panhandling throughout the emirate; unauthorised fund-raising by individuals; selling goods outside mosques and commercial buildings as well as on sidewalks; and to debar vendors from roaming in residential neighbourhoods to sell their goods, and individuals from using car wash in public parking lots and markets as a profession to earn money.
The official also pointed out that a decree issued by the head of the state in 1995 forbids panhandling, fund-raising, selling goods, roaming vendors, and using car wash as a profession to earn money outside mosques, buildings, in residential streets and markets. He also cited the anti-begging local decree No. 43 of 1989 (Articles No. 1 and 2) issued by the chairman of Dubai Municipality.
“Panhandling is one of the scourges that distort the civilised face of a society; it’s a scam against individuals whereby deceitful means are used to attract their sympathy, and could lead to crime in all its forms as it is the start of delinquency,” said Hareb.
