Sharjah
In November, 2016, I had written a Community Report about people spitting all around after chewing paan, or betel leaves in Sharjah’s Al Shuwaihean area. Though it is illegal to sell betel leaves in the UAE, it was widely available in this area. But, after my report was published, I noticed that the authorities started taking actions on the issue of the illegal business.
I witnessed a sudden visit by municipality officers in the area one evening, catching illegal sellers red handed with betel leaves, vegetables, used clothes and rotten fish. The officers did a clean sweep there, which is appreciated well.
There are there several abandoned buildings around this area, which helps these people to stay at night or to keep their belongings here to sell illegally during the day. The items are covered in newspapers, put in plastic bags and sold to the regular cusotmers.
The unusual gathering of customers and sellers here in this residence area is a big issue as it even causes violence on some days, with some people fighting over the products. I wish the authorities would take stringent actions against these people, so they stop this business altogether. Additionally, I hope they do something abou tthe abandoned buildings and violence-filled gatherings of some groups of people in this area causing danger to the residents and families and threatening their peaceful lives.
— The reader is based in Sharjah.
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FACTBOX: According to a Gulf News report published in April 2012, the fine for people caught chewing and spitting paan (betel leaf) juice is Dh1,000. Betel leaves are banned in the UAE and bringing them into the country is illegal. If a person gives a tip-off to the authorities about illegal paan traders or factories, he or she will get Dh2,000 as a reward.
