Muslims concerned about women begging outside Winnipeg mosque

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This article was published 11/05/2018 (2701 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Muslim community is warning people about women who are dressed as Muslims begging for money at intersections and parking lots.

“Please be aware that this might be a case of people taking advantage of Winnipeggers’ generosity,” the association said on social media.

During prayers on May 4, two women with cardboard signs indicating they were single mothers and needed help, showed up at the Grand Mosque on Waverley Street.

“We approached them, and invited them inside to fill out a social assistance form so they can get the aid they need with dignity and without having to stand outside. After several requests, they refused to come inside and indicated they were not from Manitoba,” the Facebook post said.

It marks the fourth year in a row during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that women wearing hijab-style head scarves have appeared outside the Grand Mosque begging for money, said Tasneem Vali, office manager of the Manitoba Islamic Association.

“This happens only during Ramadan,” she said. “They know Muslims give more to charity” during Ramadan.

One of the faith’s teachings says: “Do not turn away a poor man… even if all you can give is half a date.”

Each time the begging women appeared, Vali said she invited them to register for MIA assistance. They say they’re from Ontario and need money for a ticket to return to that province, and that they are ethnic Roma or Romani.

Vali has told them they could still receive assistance from the Islamic community even if they’re not Muslim. She told the beggars they had to leave the property if they weren’t willing to register for help. The women backed off, and stood at the parking lot entrance to ask for cash.

“I’m worried these women themselves are being exploited,” said Vali.

The other irksome matter is that the women portray themselves as Muslims.

“We have a lot of newcomers… who are trying to be self-sufficient,” said Vali. They’ve been getting help from private sponsors, immigration programs, social assistance and a huge network of volunteers and private donors, she said. “Nobody started begging.”

When Laila Chebib spotted a woman wearing a head scarf panhandling Thursday on a median in St. Vital, she approached her. Chebib came to Canada 60 years ago from Syria and has helped many newcomers.

When the woman said she couldn’t speak English but was fluent in French, she was surprised to learn Chebib was, too. Chebib asked her why she was panhandling.

“She said, ‘I have three children. I do not have enough money for heat and electricity,'” said Chebib, who knows how much assistance is available to parents with children. Chebib said she was skeptical, but offered to take the woman to an agency in St. Boniface for help. The woman declined.

Chebib said the woman said she was “Romanian,” from France and had only been in Winnipeg two months.

“I always have a car full of stuff I am distributing to people, and they have been extremely kind. To have people begging in the street who seem to be Muslim really upsets me,” said Chebib.

She said she doesn’t want Winnipeggers to be taken advantage of.

Islamic Social Services Association president Shahina Siddiqui is concerned about the safety of the women and Muslims.

Whether or not the women are Muslim, because they’re wearing hijab and look Muslim, they could become targets of violent Islamophobia, Siddiqui said. Another concern is whether the women are being exploited or are trafficked, she said.

“The best way to make sure your donation gets to someone in real need is to give it to a trusted charity organization,” the Islamic association said on Facebook.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca