Sulaymaniyah police arrest seven women for begging in ongoing crackdown

SULAYMANIYAH — Police in Sulaymaniyah announced Thursday the arrest of seven women accused of begging near a checkpoint on the road from Arbat to central Sulaymaniyah, as part of an ongoing campaign targeting public begging in and around the city.

In a statement, authorities said the arrests were carried out by the Anti-Crime Police Unit and that all seven suspects were detained under court orders and transferred for legal action.

Police said the campaign will continue and warned that individuals engaged in begging will face legal consequences under the Iraqi Penal Code.

Articles 390 and 391 of the code classify begging as a criminal offense, punishable by up to three months in prison or a fine of 450,000 dinars (approximately $343).

In March, the Kurdistan Child Protection Organization in Halabja warned the public about individuals using children in staged begging scenarios, including false claims of illness.

In May, the Kurdistan Region’s Fatwa Committee, under the Union of Islamic Scholars of Kurdistan, issued guidance discouraging people from giving money to beggars, particularly children, unless financial need is clearly verified. The religious opinion aimed to reduce public begging, which officials and clerics say may involve exploitation or be part of organized networks.