Legal Advice Thursday, 21 July 2011 01:23

A few days remain for the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan. While the pious use the month for prayers, there are a few who make use of the month to exploit others -- by begging. They hover around mosques after prayers and deploy themselves in places and public squares to beg charity. The law prescribes harsh punishments for this behavior under the name of begging, where the Qatari Penal Code No. 11/2004 indicates that “the person shall be punished by imprisonment term not exceeding three months who will beg in the streets or public places or will lead anyone to beg, or encourage him in that, and the judge, instead of handing imprisonment may sentence to hand over the beggar to reform institutions instituted for that, and in all cases, with prescribed sentence he will be  judged with the confiscation of seized money obtained from this crime.”

The law should deter people from resorting to this practice. The State of Qatar has established a number of associations and charities which collect Zakat and charity, so those who wish to donate should approach these institutions, which do not spare any effort to give these funds to those who deserve that.