With the advent of Ramadan, the Middle Eastern embassies, the London Central Mosque and Westminster City Council have warned visitors to be wary of illegal beggars taking advantage of people’s generosity during the fasting month.
Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, Director-General, The Islamic Cultural Centre and The London Central Mosque Trust, said: “Ramadan is a time of charitable giving and people have the right to feel confident that their generosity is not abused. We are increasingly aware of beggars targeting Muslims in London and abusing their charity, particularly before and during Ramadan.”
Ambassador to Kuwait and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Khaled Al Duwaisan said: “It is a shame there are beggars pretending to be homeless targeting our citizens during Ramadan; a time for fasting, prayer and charity. Therefore, we advise all our citizens to send their zakat and donations to officially registered charities locally and abroad so that they know their donations are helping people genuinely in need.”
Begging is an illegal activity, yet can be extremely lucrative. Westminster has been identified as a hotspot for those who are not homeless, but are looking to generate an income via begging.
Cllr Nickie Aiken, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Westminster City Council, said: “London, and especially Westminster, is one of the most popular destinations in the world for Middle Eastern visitors and a wonderful place to spend the summer.
“We’re not discouraging these visitors from helping others less fortunate, far from it. We are simply making sure they have all the information they need so that they can be confident their generosity is genuinely helping people in need. Charities in Westminster work 365 days a year to help rough sleepers move away from the streets and into accommodation. Thanks to their hard work between 60-70 per cent of rough sleepers new to the street do not spend a second night out. It is these charities, and others across London, which can make a real difference.”