Saudi authorities crack down on unauthorized Hajj attempts
The Hajj Security Forces at Makkah's entrances arrested five residents and seven citizens for transporting 35 individuals without permits to perform Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The ministry issued administrative decisions through seasonal committees against the transporters, accomplices, and those transported.
Penalties include imprisonment, fines up to SR100,000 ($26,600), public naming of violators, deportation of residents, and a 10-year ban from re-entering Saudi Arabia after their sentences.
The ministry also called for the confiscation of vehicles used in unauthorized transport and for fines of up to SR20,000 for those attempting Hajj without a permit.
In a separate incident, an Indian resident was arrested for transporting 22 visa-holding expatriates without Hajj permits, the SPA reported on Wednesday.
The residents were referred to the authorities and are likely to be charged and penalized.
The ministry urged all citizens and residents to comply with Hajj regulations to ensure the safety of pilgrims. It warned that performing or attempting Hajj without a permit from April 29 to June 10 is prohibited.
The ministry has encouraged the public to report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 elsewhere in the Kingdom.
Earlier this week, the Hajj Security Forces arrested 20 residents and 17 citizens for transporting 121 individuals without permits to perform Hajj.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia arrests 22,072 illegals in one week
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 22,072 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. A total of 13,833 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,624 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,615 for labor-related issues. The report showed that among the 1,640 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 64 percent were Ethiopian, 35 percent Yemeni, and 1 percent were of other nationalities. A further 48 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 37 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported. The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($267,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property. Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
Saudi Gazette
12 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi joint security raids arrest over 22,000 residency, labor, and border violators in one week
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Joint field campaigns to track and arrest violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations across all regions of Saudi Arabia resulted in the detention of 22,072 offenders between July 31 and Aug. 6, according to the Ministry of Interior. Of those apprehended, 13,833 were in violation of residency laws, 4,624 breached border security regulations, and 3,615 violated labor laws. Authorities also intercepted 1,640 individuals attempting to cross into the Kingdom illegally — 35% from Yemen, 64% from Ethiopia, and 1% from other nationalities — and detained 48 people for trying to leave Saudi Arabia unlawfully. The operations further led to the arrest of 37 people accused of transporting, sheltering, employing, or covering up for violators. Currently, 23,630 violators — including 20,601 men and 3,029 women — are undergoing legal procedures. This includes 16,162 individuals referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 3,136 awaiting travel bookings, and 11,058 already ministry reiterated that anyone who facilitates the illegal entry of border violators, transports them, shelters them, or provides any assistance faces penalties of up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to SR 1 million, confiscation of transport and housing used in the offense, and public crime is classified as a major offense warranting detention and is considered dishonorable. The public is urged to report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in other regions.
Arab News
14 hours ago
- Arab News
Munitions blast in Hezbollah site kills 5 Lebanese troops: military source
BEIRUT: Five Lebanese soldiers were killed on Saturday in a blast while removing munitions from a Hezbollah military facility in south Lebanon, a military source told AFP. 'Five soldiers were killed in an explosion... inside a Hezbollah military facility,' the source said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to brief the media, adding that the incident took place as the troops were 'removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war' between Israel and Hezbollah. The army did not immediately issue a statement, but President Joseph Aoun said he spoke to army commander Rodolphe Haykal about a 'painful incident' that led to a number of dead and wounded from the army as a result of a munitions explosion as an engineering unit 'was working to remove and disable' the ordnance, a presidency statement said.
