By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 27th February 2007
EFFORTS by a Shura Council member to bring in automatic deportation for foreign beggars were blocked by his colleagues yesterday.
The council yesterday approved a new law that will provide beggars and homeless people shelter for 10 days, while the Labour Ministry finds them work.
It was approved by parliament last year and will now go to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification.
However, Shura Council member Sayed Habib Hashim wanted to add an article that stated foreigners caught under those circumstances would face automatic deportation.
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 27th February 2007
EFFORTS by a Shura Council member to bring in automatic deportation for foreign beggars were blocked by his colleagues yesterday.
The council yesterday approved a new law that will provide beggars and homeless people shelter for 10 days, while the Labour Ministry finds them work.
It was approved by parliament last year and will now go to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification.
However, Shura Council member Sayed Habib Hashim wanted to add an article that stated foreigners caught under those circumstances would face automatic deportation.
Under the current wording it will be up to the courts to decide whether offenders will be deported.
He said that left a gap in the country’s punishment system since foreigners who break the law are normally deported anyway.
But other members vetoed his proposal and the law will remain in its original form.
“Those who are deported after serving their punishment will complain, since others are treated differently,” he said during the council’s session yesterday.
“This is an expat, who has no main source of income and is dependant on begging, and when he completes his sentence he will go back to doing whatever he is used to – (in this case) begging.”
The new shelter aims to help beggars and the homeless get off the street.
As well as getting shelter for 10 days while the Labour Ministry finds them work, they will also be given medical and psychological help.
Their names and other details will be compiled by the Social Development Ministry, which will forward a copy to the Interior Ministry.
Repeat offenders who have already been admitted to the shelter will face up to a year in jail and/or a BD50 to BD100 fine.
If they already have a source of income, they will be jailed for up to six months or fined BD20 to BD50, or both.
People using others to beg for them on the street will be jailed for up to three months and/or fined BD50 to BD200.
Beggars with families will be taken back to their homes after receiving check-ups at the shelter.
However, the breadwinner will be fined BD100 if a family member is caught begging again.
The revenue from fines will go towards a social welfare fund, which was approved by parliament and officially set up last year.
© Gulf Daily News
