Jordan: The Secretary-General of the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development, Dr Barq Al-Damour, warned against complacency and sympathy with beggars because most of them claim need and are, in fact, practising beggary, noting that the Penal Code of 2022 has made the punishment more severe than the previous law, especially in child labour and beggary.
Al-Damour acknowledged the existence of beggary in Jordan through gangs, and it is carried out in an organized manner by distributing children and women to certain places to beg, according to the Sources.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Social Development, Barq Al-Damour, revealed that the families whose members were caught begging, according to studies, do not need and that most of them have sufficient incomes and enough property for them to live with dignity, but they practised beggary.
He said that one of the beggars who were arrested was found that owns two apartment buildings in the Qweismeh and Wadi Al-Seer areas. He also revealed that one of the ministry’s cadres arrested a beggar last month in his possession of 542 dinars, claiming that it was the proceeds of one day’s income, and he was referred to court.
Al-Dammour pointed out that “trivial goods (gum – wipes – children’s toys – etc..) that are not suitable for a living are considered beggary, and that some sellers of paper newspapers are considered beggars for those who do not have a permit.”
He pointed out that 13,558 beggars were seized, including 5,337 juveniles, last year, while 8,352 beggars have been seized to date, including 5,269 adults and 3,083 juveniles.
He pointed out that some child beggars are forcibly pushed into the street as a result of the family’s abuse of beggary, pointing out that the father and mother are often the ones who abuse the children.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Social Development, Dr. Barq Al-Damour, called on citizens not to give beggars any money, even if they sympathize with them, because of their contempt for beggary and considering it a source of income that encourages going out to the streets and harnessing children.
