12-year-old allegedly forced to beg by father seeks ministry’s protection

AMMAN – A 12-year-old boy has recently resorted to the Social Development Ministry to seek protection from his father who reportedly forces him to beg on the streets, according to the ministry. 

The child has asked the ministry to protect him from his allegedly alcoholic father, who forces him to collect around JD40 a day from begging, said ministry spokesperson Fawaz Ratrout. 

“The child complained about how his father exploits him through vagrancy. The case was referred to the court in order for the ministry to offer the victim the needed protection,” he told The Jordan Times on Monday.

Earlier this month, seven minors, including five girls, were caught begging at 1am in Madaba Governorate, prompting authorities to refer them to a beggars’ rehabilitation centre in the governorate.  

After they detected the issue, the Social Development Ministry’s anti-vagrancy inspectors immediately contacted the on-call judge so he/she could issue an order to refer the minors to a rehabilitation centre, as stipulated in the law, according to Ratrout. 

“We have a very efficient system that allowed the inspectors to address the issue on the spot. Having anti-vagrancy committees that work around-the-clock and an on-call judge contributed to protecting the minors who were wandering the street at a very late hour,” he told The Jordan Times in previous remarks.  

Ratrout noted that the juveniles will stay at the rehabilitation facility until a judicial ruling  decides if they should return to their families after legal action is taken against them or if they should stay at the centre. 

Under the law, adult beggars detained by authorities are referred to police stations and then to court in accordance with the Penal Code, while juveniles are referred to care centres affiliated with the ministry, where they are rehabilitated.

The ministry has detained more than 2,900 beggars since the start of the year, including 2,100 adults and 800 minors, according to the spokesperson.