'No Hajj Without a Permit:' Saudi employs drones to curb unauthorised pilgrims
Gulf Today Report
Saudi authorities are employing innovative technologies particularly drones for surveillance to prevent the infiltration of unauthorised pilgrims into Makkah during Hajj this year.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is employing state-of-the-art technologies to boost its efforts in identifying illegal pilgrims ahead of the Hajj, foreign media reported.
Saudi officials welcome a pilgrim upon his arrival at Jeddah Airport. SPA
The General Directorate of Public Security of Saudi Arabia has also released a video showcasing a drone equipped with a high-resolution camera monitoring violators and vehicles attempting to transport unauthorized pilgrims without the mandatory official permits, commonly known as the Nusuk Card, the foreign media further said.
As part of the high-profile campaign 'No Hajj Without a Permit,' Saudi security authorities are conducting a rigorous crackdown on illegal pilgrims and against their facilitators.
The released footage shows a drone identifying a suspicious vehicle in the desert, suspected of carrying undocumented pilgrims. The drone relayed the vehicle's coordinates to security patrols, who promptly apprehended the violators.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for Pakistan's Religious Ministry Muhammad Umar Butt while praising Saudi authorities' this initiative said, 'Saudi Arabia's commitment to modernising the pilgrimage experience through innovative technology demonstrates their dedication to ensuring pilgrims' comfort and convenience.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Pakistani father commits suicide after poisoning children over Eid clothes
Gulf Today Report A financially distressed father in Pakistan poisoned his three children and took his own life after failing to buy them clothes for Eid, the police said, The News reported on Monday. According to the police, the incident occurred in Sardar Garh Basti Haji Pir area of Rukanpur village. The man, who worked as a tractor trolley driver, had been unemployed and distressed for several days, the police said. In a state of despair, they added, he gave poisonous pills to his two disabled sons and daughter, before ingesting them himself. The father and two children died, while the daughter is currently out of danger, Sheikh Zayed Hospital said in a statement, where the girl was undertreatment. This year in February, a similar tragedy unfolded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Swabi district, wherein a man took his own life after allegedly slaughtering his four children, including two minors.
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Middle East Eye
Forcibly disappeared Egyptian poet marks 145 days in UAE detention, family calls for release
The family of disappeared Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi have issued a plea to the Emirati government for his release, as he marks 145 days of solitary confinement at an unknown location in the country. Qaradawi was arrested in Lebanon in January, and extradited to the UAE over a video he posted to social media while visiting Syria, in which he expressed critical views of the Egyptian, Emirati and Saudi authorities. Both Egypt and the UAE issued extradition requests for Qaradawi, with Lebanese authorities acting on the Emirati warrant on 8 January. Since then, he remains forcibly disappeared in the UAE, with no charges nor an indication about when he will appear in court. According to Qaradawi's UK lawyer, Rodney Dixon, since his extradition Qaradawi's family managed to see him for just 10 minutes on 23 March. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'It was a brief and heavily restricted visit,' Dixon told Middle East Eye. 'They weren't taken to the place where he is being held and still don't know where he is imprisoned. Since then, there has been no further contact, despite repeated requests. 'He remains disappeared in the UAE, held in an undisclosed location. He has now been held for over 130 days without charge, without access to a court, and in clear violation of international human rights standards." Dixon reported that while Qaradawi appeared to be physically stable during the visit, 'it is impossible to know his true condition' given the heavily restricted nature of the interaction. 'What is clear is that he is being held in solitary confinement, with no access to the outside world,' he said. 'Troubling precedent' In a statement given to MEE, Qaradawi's family expressed 'deep concern' about his welfare and urged the Emirati authorities 'to respect his rights and ensure his safety'. 'Our only goal is to see him safe and back home with his family and daughters where he belongs,' they said, adding that they are working closely with his international legal council to secure his release. According to Dixon, Qaradawi does not have a lawyer of his choosing and instead has been assigned a government appointed lawyer, who has provided no information to the family on his whereabouts. In March, a group of United Nations human rights experts raised the alarm over Qaradawi's continued forced disappearance, and called on the UAE to disclose his whereabouts. They further expressed concern regarding the legal process of Qaradawi's extradition, which was triggered by an arrest warrant issued by the little-known security body, the Arab Interior Ministers' Council (AIMC), saying that the move was politically motivated and not based on legal criteria. The extradition process orchestrated by the AIMC, they said, 'is being abused by some states to silence criticism, shut down dissent, and pursue activists beyond their borders'. The Arab Interior Ministers Council: What is it and why are there human rights concerns? Read More » Qaradawi is one of an increasing number of perceived political dissidents targeted for extradition by the AIMC on seemingly political charges. The experts also warned that Qaradawi could face further extradition to Egypt, where he faces a three-year prison sentence for 'spreading false news'. Human Rights Watch has highlighted the UK and the EU's capacity to pressure the UAE for Qaradawi's release, citing their partnerships with the country, including the UK-UAE Sovereign Investment Partnership or the EU-UAE Cooperation Agreement. 'These partnerships are not solely economic in nature; they reflect shared commitments to justice, transparency, and human rights. Silence, in this case, risks signaling that these principles are secondary to strategic interests, setting a troubling precedent that could embolden further transnational repression,' HRW said in a statement. Dixon has written to the UK Foreign Office, confirming that he had 'received feedback' from them, but was unable to disclose further details. 'We look forward to seeing the full weight of their support to protect his rights,' he said.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia drives 205,000 unauthorized pilgrims out of Makkah and busts 415 fake Haj offices
MAKKAH — Director of Saudi Public Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami revealed that Public Security teams have driven out more than 205,000 people without Hajj permits from Makkah. Addressing a joint press conference of the Hajj security commanders in Makkah on Sunday, he said that the security forces have turned back more than 269,000 people without Hajj permits from entering Makkah. "The Public Security officials have arrested 1,239 people who attempted to transport illegal pilgrims, and imposed penalties on more than 75,000 violators of Hajj regulations. The security teams also busted more than 415 fake Hajj offices," he said while revealing the adoption of punitive measures to deal with violators during the Hajj season. During the press conference, the Hajj security commanders reviewed the security and organizational plans for this year's Hajj season, Al-Bassami said that Saudi Public Security was able to employ artificial intelligence to boost its security plans to crack down on violators of Hajj regulations. He stressed that security personnel will be on the lookout for anyone who violates the Hajj regulations. Al-Bassami said that Public Security has turned back 110,000 vehicles at the entry points to Makkah for transporting unauthorized pilgrims. It also impounded more than 5,000 vehicles that were planning to transport pilgrims without permits. Saudi Public Security has activated permanent security checkpoints at the entrances to Makkah to apprehend violators. Director General of Passports Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Murabba revealed that the number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has exceeded 1.47 million. The number of countries benefiting from the Makkah Route Initiative has increased to eight countries with 12 embarkation points. Al-Murabba said that the Passports Department has worked to facilitate procedures for pilgrims in the countries benefiting from the Makkah Route Initiative, indicating that they have equipped ports with the latest technology and provided multilingual staff to serve pilgrims. "We have field teams equipped with mobile bags that provide services at all locations and help identify unidentified persons," he said. Al-Murabba urged the pilgrims to depart quickly after the Hajj season ends to avoid exposing themselves to legal accountability. He revealed that the General Directorate of Passports has made the preparations to ensure the departure of the pilgrims after performing the rituals of Hajj. The Ministry of Interior affirmed its ability to deal firmly and effectively with anything that might undermine Hajj security. The State Security Presidency revealed the availability of robust security plans to manage crowds at the Jamarat facility during Hajj. "Pilgrims are in our eyes, and violators are in our grasp," the ministry said adding that it is providing protection to maintain order at vital Hajj sites. The ministry stated that Special Emergency Forces will carry out field missions to ensure the safety of pilgrims and prevent infiltrators and violators from accessing the holy sites without permission. On Saturday, Interior Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud reviewed the readiness of Hajj security forces to carry out their field missions to maintain the security and safety of pilgrims at the annual ceremony organized by the security forces participating in this year's Hajj. "Under the guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, I witnessed today the preparations of the Hajj Security Forces. I am proud of the complete readiness and advanced capabilities I saw, and I ask God to grant us all success in fulfilling our leadership's aspirations for a safe and successful Hajj on all levels," he said. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
