BLIGHT: Despite a crackdown, some beggars manage to sneak into the holy sites. (AN photo)

Female beggars were rampant during Haj in and around Mina on routes leading to the Jamrat (stoning) area and other sites, with some raking in as much as SR4,000.

“These beggars have convincing methods to ask for money,” said Ahmad Ali, a pilgrim. “Some of them say they are sick, while others sit on the ground pretending to be handicapped to invoke the pity of bystanders.”

Ibrahim Sadeq, another pilgrim, said he ran into a group of very young female beggars of African descent asking for money to buy food.

“I offered one of the beggars to come with me to a restaurant so I can buy her food, but she refused,” he added.

A female beggar by the name of Sadiya Noor said she came to the holy sites to beg because she said the money is good and begging is very feasible during the Haj

“My family is very poor and the money we have is not enough to pay for rent and food,” she said. “Our parents are keen on us begging during Haj because we make good money. I make as much as SR4,000 daily.”

Another 50-year-old beggar of Asian descent said this the first time she came to perform Haj. “I noticed that many children, men and women ask for money from Hajis, so I did the same during these last couple of days. I have earned myself SR1,200, an amount that will help me buy presents for my grandchildren and pay for other expenses,” she said.

Authorities, however, have appealed to pilgrims not to give beggars any money to discourage the phenomenon from continuing in future Haj seasons.

Source: ArabNews