The city of Safi, located on the Atlantic coast, is considered one of the most important tourist destinations in Morocco. It is distinguished by a rich history spanning many centuries, in addition to its charming nature that combines the sea and the mountains, making it an ideal destination for both Moroccan and foreign tourists alike.
Thanks to its geographical location and its wealth of natural and historical assets, the city of Safi (the capital of Abda) is a unique attraction for heritage and culture enthusiasts. It houses prominent historical landmarks such as the ancient Kasbah, the Portuguese Cathedral, the Qasr al-Bahr (Sea Palace), and other monuments dating back to different historical periods.
It also enjoys fertile lands overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, which gives it stunning natural landscapes that combine sandy beaches and green hills. It is also known for its traditional pottery industry, which is one of its most prominent cultural and heritage symbols. This industry is not limited to the economic aspect alone, but represents part of the city's identity and heritage, which attracts tourists who come to watch this ancient craft and purchase unique ceramic pieces.
Despite this unique and alluring beauty, the city faces a major challenge that may tarnish its tourist image, which is the worrying spread of the phenomenon of begging, or what is locally known as "Sa'aya". This phenomenon has begun to take on exciting and unprecedented dimensions, as it has become rare for a visitor to walk through the city's streets and alleys without encountering beggars of all ages, including children, women, and men, in addition to the increasing numbers of beggars from sub-Saharan African countries.
A number of civil society actors in the city of Safi believe that the phenomenon of begging is no longer limited to popular areas or poor neighbourhoods, but has extended to major tourist areas such as the Corniche, the ancient Souks, and even in front of hotels and restaurants. This widespread prevalence has begun to annoy tourists and gives a negative impression of the city, which may affect the flow of visitors and distort the beautiful image that Safi seeks to establish as a distinguished tourist destination.
In light of these developments, there are increasing calls for the intervention of local authorities, security services, and the Public Prosecution at the Court of First Instance of Safi to take strict measures to curb the spread of the phenomenon of begging. Many civil society actors believe that addressing this problem requires the concerted efforts of various institutions to confront the causes of begging and to seek alternative social and humanitarian solutions for these individuals.
Abderrahim El Hachimi, a civil society actor in the city of Safi, points out that "the phenomenon of begging has become a worrying phenomenon that not only affects the aesthetics of the city, but also negatively affects local tourism," adding, "We call on the authorities to enforce the law and address this phenomenon in humane ways, by providing shelters and income-generating work for the affected groups."
For his part, an official source confirmed that "the new regional authority is working hard to confront this phenomenon, but it requires the concerted efforts of various parties," noting that "there are plans to launch awareness campaigns and social initiatives, in addition to strengthening security interventions in tourist areas."
El Hachimi believes that addressing this phenomenon effectively requires strengthening the security presence in tourist areas and vital centres to limit the spread of beggars and ensure the comfort of visitors, stressing the need to strictly apply laws against beggars who return to begging to protect the city's image and reputation.
For her part, Karima Belamam, a human rights activist in the city, said that it is necessary to organize awareness campaigns targeting beggars to encourage them to move away from begging and seek alternative solutions, while at the same time calling for educating citizens not to encourage begging by refraining from giving money to beggars, and instead turning to local associations that provide sustainable social support.
Belamam added, in a statement to Hespress, that dealing with beggars must take into account their social conditions, but on the other hand, the law must be applied firmly to organized networks that exploit poverty and begging as a means to achieve illicit gains, stressing that "fighting this phenomenon is the responsibility of the Public Prosecution, which must mobilize security services and local authorities to draw up official reports against beggars, count them accurately, and in case of recidivism, those involved should be prosecuted in accordance with the laws in force to ensure an effective confrontation of this phenomenon."
For their part, sources from the local authority highlighted that there is an increasing trend to strictly apply the law regarding the phenomenon of begging, with a focus on dismantling networks that exploit children and women in this illegal activity, noting that "the regional authority, represented by the new provincial governor, has recently opened this file, and there is a readiness to launch large-scale security campaigns, under the supervision of the Public Prosecution, to fight all shameful phenomena that harm the reputation of the city of Safi."
A number of human rights activists said, in identical statements to Hespress, that addressing the phenomenon of begging in Safi requires a comprehensive approach that combines the security and social dimensions, noting that, on the one hand, security interventions must be strengthened to contain the phenomenon, and on the other hand, social alternatives must be provided for beggars by improving their living conditions and providing them with job opportunities.
The city of Safi remains one of the most beautiful coastal cities in Morocco, with its stunning nature and ancient heritage. However, maintaining its tourist appeal requires a quick and comprehensive treatment of the phenomenon of begging, which distorts its image in the eyes of visitors and leaves negative impressions about it, says Ibrahim Hanafi, an activist in the field of human rights in the city, stressing that solutions should not only be security-based, but should also focus on providing social and economic support to vulnerable groups, which enhances the city's stability and preserves its reputation as a distinguished tourist destination.
The post The phenomenon of begging disturbs the "capital of Abda" appeared first on Hespress - Moroccan electronic newspaper.
