‘Teenager forced to beg to feed father’s drug addiction’

AMMAN — A 16-year-old girl has been found begging on streets in one of the capital’s areas to collect money to buy drugs for her father, Social Development Ministry spokesperson, Fawaz Ratrout, said on Wednesday. 

“We found out that the girl’s father makes her beg on streets every day so he can buy himself drugs with the money she collects,” he said. 

Ratrout added that the father, who was recently arrested by police, sexually assaulted the girl while “on drugs”.

The victim was in the ministry’s custody for the past three months, the official said, and is currently living with relatives, until the court announces a verdict. 

The teenager will be testifying in the case against her father in court soon, he noted.

He said that the ministry is committed to identify the reasons for the spread of street beggars, especially among young people.

“The reason we chose to  publicise this story is to raise awareness among the public regarding the issue of child labour and street beggars, since begging is not a minor crime — it generates more serious crimes,” the spokesperson added.

He noted similar cases exist in the Kingdom; however, they are “individual acts” and should be limited. 

More than 4,000 beggars were detained by authorities in 2015 alone, Ratrout said in previous remarks.

Adult beggars detained by authorities are referred to police 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.