Handicap enters UAE as a ‘businessman’ to beg

Dubai’s authorities arrested 256 beggars during the fasting month of Ramadan including a handicapped Iranian who entered the UAE as a businessman.

Police said 199 of those arrested were Asians while there were 25 Arabs, 27 Africans and five from other Gulf Arab countries.

They said the seized beggars comprised 205 men, 39 women and 12 children and that most of them were arrested near mosques and banks.

“One of those arrested was a handicapped Iranian man without arms…we found that he had entered the country as a businessman and headed straight to mosques to beg,” said Colonel Mohammed Al Muhairi, director of the tourism security department.

He told local newspapers that most of the beggars were arrested near mosques and banks, where they stalk people at cash machines.

“They go and stand just near the ATM machines at various banks and in malls and other public places in the emirate…they wait for people to withdraw money before they ask for alms…they are deliberately embarrassing those people.”

Muhairi said a counter-begging drive launched by Dubai’s police during Ramadan would continue through Eid holidays and cover most favorite places for beggars.

Begging is strictly banned in the UAE and other Gulf oil producers, where they are either jailed or deported.

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