AMMAN — The public prosecutor on Wednesday filed
charges against the father, mother, and uncle of three children involved in the
so-called “Mecca Street girls’ case.”
اضافة اعلان
Earlier this week, on Monday, three girls were taken
into child protection after allegedly being forced into panhandling by their
father on Mecca Street. The case is being considered the first-ever instance of
panhandling being classified and prosecuted as a human trafficking crime in
Jordan.
The incident was brought to the Ministry of Social
Development’s attention after someone posted on social media and a concerned
citizen called authorities and told them three young girls were begging on
Mecca Street into the late hours of the night.
After an investigation and social and psychological
follow-ups by the Ministry of Social Development, the public prosecutor pushed
forward with the charges, according to Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The ministry's spokesman, Ashraf Khreis, told Jordan
News, that "The girls, who we are supervising, are in the presence of
judicial order, and they are currently receiving all the attention and
care."
A modification to Articles 3 and 9 of the Anti-Human
Trafficking Law now includes forcing children into panhandling as a human
trafficking crime. The sentence carries with it a sentence of no less than
seven years temporary labor and a fine of between JD5,000 and JD20,000.
This comes amid a crack-down on panhandling by the
anti-begging unit at the Ministry of Social Development. The ministry reported
that in August, a beggar who was arrested was found to be in ownership of a
car, and was receiving JD787 from social security.
The ministry issued a statement calling for citizens to
not provide money to beggars and instead donate to charities.
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