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Austria: Ban on Begging

April 18, 2011

Beggars are not welcome in Austria. Styria has joined Vienna and Salzburg in issuing a ban on begging.

https://p.dw.com/p/RIZa
Historic center of GrazImage: DW
Bettlerin in Graz, Österreich
Image: DW
The move has triggered an impassioned public debate, with mendicant orders in Graz pointing out that alms and charity belong to Christian culture - but the local authorities don't care. Those who support the ban, meanwhile, argue that beggars are organized in gangs - but police and prosecutors have no evidence to back this up.  Legal experts predict that the constitutional court in Vienna will receive so many complaints that the ban is likely to be revoked.