IRAQ: City of Basra bans beggars in attempt to prevent attacks prior and during national elections

Record ID: 783433

  • Title: IRAQ: City of Basra bans beggars in attempt to prevent attacks prior and during national elections
  • Date: 10th February 2010
  • Summary: BASRA, IRAQ (RECENT - FEBRUARY 4, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BASRA GOVERNOR BUILDING SIGN "BASRA GOVERNORATE BUILDING" ALI GHANIM AL-MALIKI, HEAD OF THE SECURITY COMMITTEE AT THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, WORKING IN OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI GHANIM AL-MALIKI, HEAD OF THE SECURITY COMMITTEE AT THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, SAYING: "The decision to ban beggars from streets was motivated by a number of reasons. It is an uncivilised phenomenon and there is the possibility of infiltrators exploiting beggars to harm Iraqi society and Basra's society in particular, these evil people can take advantage of the Basra citizen by planting a roadside bomb or something similar, especially since no one can figure out whether it's a man or woman who is behind a veil." IRAQI FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI GHANIM AL-MALIKI, HEAD OF THE SECURITY COMMITTEE AT THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, SAYING: "Measures to implement this ban are carried out by the executive authorities including police and emergency forces who will bring the beggars to police centres and then release them after making them sign a pledge not to beg again in future."
  • Embargoed: 25th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVAC32HWISN84YOKF1M6JAP9R653
  • Story Text: Iraq's southern oil hub of Basra has banned beggars from streets and other public places to help prevent attacks in the lead up to a parliamentary election in March, a security official said last week.
    Like most of Iraq, security has improved greatly in Basra, which was often controlled by Shi'ite militiamen until U.S. and Iraqi military offensives in 2008, but some fear an outbreak of attacks before the vote on March 7.
    Ali Ghanim al-Maliki, head of the security committee at the provincial council, said that the decision was based on fears and real information from security operatives about the possibility of militants using beggars or disguising themselves as beggars to conduct attacks that target officials or candidates for the election.
    "The decision to ban beggars from streets was motivated by a number of reasons. It is an uncivilised phenomenon and there is the possibility of infiltrators exploiting beggars to harm Iraqi society and Basra's society in particular, these evil people can take advantage of the Basra citizen by planting a roadside bomb or something similar, especially since no one can figure out whether it's a man or woman who is behind a veil," Maliki said.
    "Measures to implement this ban are carried out by the executive authorities including police and emergency forces who will bring the beggars to police centres and then release them after making them sign a pledge not to beg again in future," he added.
    Iraq is trying to cement security gains made over the last two years, ramp up oil production to fill government coffers and boost development after more than 6-1/2 years of war preceded by years of sanctions and underinvestment.
    Beggars criticised the provincial city's decision, saying that it would deprive them of their only source of living.
    "How can we earn our living after the government has banned us? What shall we do? Shall we become prostitutes? Or shall we steal or bomb? We do not have a source of income. We rely on God and money given by them "the drivers". We will stop begging, if they (the government) give us a salary of up to 400 or 500 (thousand Iraqi dinars) to pay the 150 (thousand Iraqi dinars) for rent and food. If they did not give us 400 to 500 thousands, we will not stop. We rely on begging to survive," said a veiled beggar woman.
    Attacks by suspected Sunni Islamist insurgents continue and are expected to increase ahead of the vote while political infighting among Shi'ite factions in the south could also lead to more bloodshed.
    Most of the world's third largest oil reserves are in the south near Basra, and the predominantly Shi'ite city is considered an important barometer of voter sentiment in Iraq.
    Despite sitting on top of Iraq's largest oil reservoirs, Basra remains a decrepit city. Beggars crowd many intersections demanding money from drivers. Women hold out babies seeking alms.
    Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led government is likely to run on the improved security and a raft of crude deals signed with oil majors that could turn Iraq into a top three global hydrocarbons producer, from 11th currently.
    But the security situation in Iraq remains tenuous. Coordinated bombings of government buildings and hotels over the last six months have killed hundreds of people.
    Last week, a suicide bomber killed at least 41 Shi'ite pilgrims when she blew herself up at a tent serving food to Iraqis on an arduous religious trek.
    Maliki's competitors are likely to point to the attacks to criticise his leadership and to highlight slow progress in other fields, such as the electricity sector.
    His main rival is the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), led by a powerful Shi'ite political movement, though both his slate and the INA have projected themselves as nationalists and include other sects and groups.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register