New York Police campaign targeted 12 vendors who were selling prayer rugs and copies of the Holy Quran (French)
The British Middle East Eye website reported that New York City police launched a raid on one of the city's streets targeting street vendors selling Islamic goods.
The website said that the police campaign took place just two days before the beginning of the month of Ramadan and targeted street vendors, most of whom were of Bengali origin, on a well-known street in the Queens district of the city.
The British website quoted the American newspaper "The City" as saying that the area, which was usually crowded with boxes and tables decorated with religious texts, and where there were about 12 vendors selling carpets, clothes, Islamic books, and other goods, was empty of vendors and goods.
The City report stated that the New York Police issued orders to vendors to vacate the area on March 8, and issued violations against them under penalty of unlicensed street selling.
The Middle East Eye website quoted one of the sellers targeted by the campaign as saying that a police officer asked him to stop selling and issued a ticket against him worth $250. He and other sellers who were affected by the raid and ban campaign expressed their fear of returning to selling in the area.
The website indicated that many vendors have been left without a source of livelihood after the ban, and are now facing challenges to pay rent and living expenses.
One of the vendors - named Muhammad Nasser Al-Din, who supports his family of five people, including his three younger brothers - was quoted as saying: “My biggest fear is that I will be arrested for working without a license, and I also fear that I will not be able to help or support my family anymore.” now".
US law requires sellers who offer goods for sale in public places outside stores to obtain licenses to do so, but the procedures for granting licenses are slow, as “The City” newspaper indicates that about 11,920 people are still on the waiting list to obtain a license to sell.
Reports indicate that the number of vendors in public places in New York is estimated at about 20,000, most of whom operate without a license.
Source: Middle East Eye