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Over 2,710 ‘beggars’ caught in Saudi Arabia last year

The Ministry of Labor and Social Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has released a report stating that over 2,710 Saudi men and women were caught moonlighting as beggars in 2018.

According to the Makkah daily, these “beggars,” which consist of 570 men and 2,140 women, were seized by 13 offices as part of the government’s efforts to combat begging all over the Kingdom.

Social worker Fouad Al-Mishaikhis said the beggars use their social media accounts to show their prospective donors copies of videos showing them in poor neighborhoods, and not their actual homes which wouldn’t pass for a beggar’s home as it is a lot neater.

Mishaikhis stated that these kinds of beggars are not actually in need but only do begging for them to earn extra money and improve their lifestyle.

“These people are used to getting easy money so they are not willing to give up begging even if they have all their needs and requirements met,” Mishaikhis said in a statement.

There are also some cases in which “beggars” use their children to gain sympathy of donors by forcing them to wear dirty and worn-out clothes. Cases also include some beggars selling their kidneys so kind-hearted people may opt to give them money.

Heidecel Serrano

Heidecel Serrano is a London-based contributor for The Filipino Times. She has worked for The Filipino Times as a reporter/writer from 2018 until she moved to the United Kingdom in 2019. She focuses her writing on light-hearted and inspiring stories among OFWs in Europe. You may contact her at [email protected]

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