JEDDAH, 2 November 2004 — Beggary is an act of desperation, ignorance and injustice. A beggar, woman or man, either resorts to begging as a last option, or as the only option, or as the easiest option. Communities, local and international, call for the elimination of beggars: this social menace that disfigures the public streets and offends the civilized environment. No one is born a beggar, a person becomes a beggar or is driven to become one.

Arab News met with a number of female beggars, women who are social rejects due to their circumstances. And after genuine confirmation that this was no anti-beggary squad in disguise, the unfortunate women consented to shed light on their pitiful lives.

“I’ve been blind for nearly 11-12 years”, says Umm Zaid, a woman in her mid-50s dressed in a ragged abaya. “Since I was a child I always suffered from lack of eyesight. By the time I got married I was half-blind. I never found out why or what it was. The day I became entirely blind, my drug addict husband kicked me out of the house. My sons, all adults and married with families of their own, didn’t have time or room for me. My parents are dead. I can’t read or write. I could be a peddler if someone taught me but who will? I wish I’d died before begging,” she said, the tears welling up her sightless eyes.

Umm Fatma said: “My husband is in jail because of drugs. I used to be a peddler but things just got so worse I wasn’t able to continue. I’m now reduced to begging just to meet the rent and pay the other bills. Sometimes I earn some money as a maid but it isn’t easy because I’m Saudi. After my husband was sentenced and convicted, his family disowned him, his children and me. And my family would only take me in if I deserted my children. I’m trying my best, what else can I do?”

“We have children to take care of and how are we to survive?” asked Zahra, another beggar woman and mother of 4, including an infant son. “What fault is it of mine that my husband is in jail and it’s not our fault that our families can’t help us. The money some of us get from the National Committee for the Care of Prisoners’ Families isn’t enough to cover our needs.”

Zahra, in her mid-40s, once led a normal peaceful life. Her husband ‘Abu Osama’ was an ideal husband and good father and loyal son. All that was destroyed the day he started going with the wrong crowd and got hooked to drugs. In a severe withdrawal fit, he accidentally killed his mother and has been in jail now for 3 years. This is the fourth year and Zahra with her children remain deserted and disowned by the rest of his and her family.

Zahra continues: “The anti-beggary squad caught me once and arrested me. I cried and begged them to let me go.”

Waleed Tamimi, assistant to the president of King Fahd Public Hospital, told Al-Watan: “People undergo different crises that vary from person to person. Families of convicts suffer the consequences of their convicted kin. Society doesn’t forget or forgive. The community must come together to help the families of convicts whether it’s charities or government institutions. Especially society because people should change their view of these families and have some compassion and respect for them. The families are innocent victims. They are not the guilty convicts.”

The president of the National Committee for the Welfare of Convicts’ Families in Jeddah said that they are working on lightening the pressure on such unfortunate families by offering financial help especially during Eid holidays or school seasons. He also stated that they are trying to accommodate the mothers and the wives in these families and find appropriate jobs that enable them to make an honest living.

“Help us, don’t just pity or condemn us. We were once one of you, living safely in secure comfortable homes. Time is treacherous. Can you believe beggars used to bother me?” said Umm Hamad, a beggar for 7 years now. “Now with my husband and my only son both in jail for drugs and theft and no qualifications, I beg. I reach out and accept whatever is given to me, money or a job, anything. I’m a beggar and beggars can’t be choosers.”