Interior Ministry: Reporting beggars is a national duty, and donations are made through official channels
The Ministry of Interior emphasizes combating begging
The Saudi Ministry of Interior, in an urgent statement, emphasized the importance of concerted community efforts to combat the phenomenon of begging, stressing that reporting beggars is a national duty incumbent upon every citizen and resident. The Ministry strongly warned against being deceived by misleading appearances and deceptive tactics employed by some to elicit sympathy and humanitarian sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of directing donations and alms through official and approved channels and platforms to ensure they reach those truly in need.
The historical and systemic context of combating begging
These warnings come within the context of the Kingdom's ongoing and historic efforts to eradicate begging, culminating recently in the issuance of the Anti-Begging Law. This law establishes a strict legal framework criminalizing all forms of begging, whether individual or organized by groups and gangs, and imposes deterrent penalties including imprisonment, fines, and deportation for non-Saudis. Historically, begging has been more prevalent during certain seasons, but growing public awareness and intensified security efforts have significantly contributed to curbing and limiting its spread.
The importance of donating through official platforms
To regulate and facilitate charitable work, the Kingdom has provided a secure and reliable digital environment for donations. Regulated national platforms, such as the Ihsan Charity Platform and the Sahem Platform, represent the ideal and safest alternative for paying Zakat and Sadaqah. These platforms are subject to rigorous government oversight, ensuring high transparency and delivering aid to genuinely needy families and those in need, thus preventing begging gangs from exploiting collected funds for illicit activities or financing unknown entities.
The local and regional impact of donation governance
Combating begging is not merely a routine security measure; it has profound implications at the local and regional levels. Locally, these measures contribute to preserving the civilized appearance of Saudi cities and enhancing security and stability by cutting off funding sources for organized crime. Regionally and internationally, the Kingdom presents a leading model in the governance of charitable work and the use of technology to serve humanity, thus strengthening its position in global transparency indices and in combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Numbers for reporting beggars and confidentiality guaranteed
To activate the community's role in this national campaign, the Ministry of Interior, through its official account on the X platform, explained the direct reporting mechanism. It urged everyone to take the initiative and call the designated numbers:
- Number 911: To report any cases of begging observed in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province.
- Number 999: To receive reports in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Keen to encourage active cooperation from citizens and residents, the Ministry has reassured everyone that all reports are treated with complete and absolute confidentiality, without any legal repercussions for the reporter. Eradicating this negative phenomenon requires a firm societal awareness that random donations do more harm than good, and that adhering to official guidelines is the only way to build a safe and cohesive society.
