Morocco Considers Controversial Penalties for Begging and Almsgiving

Faced with the phenomenon of begging raging in the streets of the kingdom, the Minister of Family, Solidarity, Equality and Social Development, Bassima Hakkaoui, sees a shock solution. She has also given the measure of her annoyance in the face of the members of the second Chamber. Indeed, questioned by the elected representatives of the people on this major social concern, the minister proposed sanctions against those who give alms.

The daily Assabah, which reports the information in its publication of the day, particularly mentions the case of "fake beggars who rent children to beg in the streets". To support her proposal, the minister recalled the practice in some countries which, to fight against the evil, apply "sanctions against people who help beggars who do not really need it".

According to the newspaper, Bassima Hakkaoui circumscribes the phenomenon of begging to three factors: social, economic and psychological. To fight against the evil, taking into account the first two factors, the minister recalled "the implementation of several programs that make it possible to prevent people from being forced to beg to meet their needs". As for those who succumb to begging for psychological reasons, Bassima Hakkaoui proposes to "set up devices to treat them, instead of arresting them and putting them in prison as some parliamentarians recommend," specifies the same source.

The minister of the family’s appearance before the Chamber of Advisors also made it possible to particularly mention the situation of these children rented by the professionals of begging. A real "human trafficking" that the parliamentarians have called to ban, by all means.