PM:10:27:25/01/2022
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SULAIMANI — Baghdad Police Command said
on Tuesday (January 25) the number of panhandlers in the Iraqi capital has gone
down, while authorities say they are working to address the situation.
Lt. Col. Aziz Nasser, the director of
Baghdad Police Command, said in a statement begging was a "rampant phenomenon”
and some people were getting a great deal of money out of panhandling.
Nasser explained beggars were arrested
but released the next day, after which they go right back to the streets to the
same work. He said the Ministry of Interior was discussing the issue with the
Supreme Judicial Council.
The director said committees were
working to set guidelines to end panhandling or at least address the problem
and that the leadership of the interior ministry was in the process of getting
beggars off the streets.
"The number of beggars has decreased
recently but they are still present,” Nasser said.
Officers from the Directorate of
Residence Affairs said on January 10 that 45 foreign nationals were charged
with violating the terms and conditions of their residence in Iraq by
panhandling.
One of those arrested was believed to
be a top promoter of begging in the country and allegedly recruited people
through social media.
(NRT Digital Media)