Children forced to beg on Jeddah streets
Although the International Labor Organization has criminalized child labor and the use of children for economic purposes, many child beggars are seen lingering around shopping malls and traffic lights in the Kingdom.
Some of these youngsters carry towels, gum or water bottles, pretending they are for sale. These items are used to disguise the fact they are out begging for money.
Houriah, a 10-year-old girl selling towels in front of a Jeddah shopping mall, said that her father is from Afghanistan and her mother of Turkish descent.
She sells towels in the evening. Her mother cautioned her to stay close to public places, never to go to isolated areas, or with strangers. “My brother is always around to protect me, just in case I am threatened or get in trouble,” she said.
“I get anywhere between SR 10 and SR 50 daily,” she added.
Azar is a seven-year-old boy who lost his parents and lives with his uncle. He sells chewing gums and towels, “to support myself. But I attend Qur’an recital lessons,” he said.
“I must take home SR 50 from the proceeds of my sales every day, or my uncle will kick me out. When that happens I have to spend the night in public parks. I have thought about running away many times, but where can I go?”
Kamin, a 15-year old girl, said her parents are from Afghanistan but she was born in Saudi Arabia.
“I have never been to
I must take home SR 50 from the proceeds of my sales every day, or my uncle will kick me out.
Afghanistan. I study at a special school that teaches me Qur’an recitation and arithmetic. I’ve been selling things in front of shops and at traffic lights ever since I was a young child. It’s my father who tells me to do so. We live in a small house in a poor neighborhood. I am the eldest and have four brothers. I am now working on teaching them how to sell things,” she said.
Sa’d Ash Shahrani, director of the office to counter begging, said that these children are beggars. “Some organized groups push them onto the streets under the pretext of selling items. They train them how to beg and entreat people to help them in the name of Allah. They are sent to places where there are many people,” he said.
“We believe these children are run by infiltrators or foreigners illegally residing in the Kingdom. These children should be reported to the authorities. The relevant agencies will then take the necessary action,” he said.