A number of children and women were seen begging in different areas of the city on Eid Al Fitr day yesterday. Some women were seen outside mosques and Eidgahs, big and open places specially assigned for Eid prayers, where Eid prayers were held. This is the first time since Qatar made begging illegal a few years ago that women and children were seen soliciting alms publicly. Until a few years ago, begging was literally a menace, especially on Fridays and during Ramadan and Eid festivities. The menace almost ended with the authorities cracking down on the violators. Many of the beggars used to come to Qatar on visit visas literally in gangs from overseas only for begging. But yesterday in a repeat of the violation, a lot of small children were seen crowding cars near petrol stations and wishing Eid Mubarak to motorists and indirectly soliciting cash. Veiled women were seen sitting outside mosques and Eidgahs, and to the surprise of many, people did give alms. It is customary for Muslims to give alms during Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=September2009&file=Local_News2009092115136.xml

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