5 days ago
Authorities in Mecca crack down on Hajj pilgrims without permits
Security forces in Mecca are cracking down on people trying to make a pilgrimage without a permit, as the Islamic holy city prepares to host hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers.
Ahead of the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, authorities have denied access to Mecca to around 270,000 people because they did not have official permits, the Hajj Security Committee said on Sunday.
In addition, more than 400 illegal Hajj companies have been discovered, along with more than 5,000 vehicles that were meant to transport unauthorized pilgrims to the holy sites.
The Hajj is expected to begin on Wednesday. Nearly 1.5 million people have travelled from abroad to take part. Last year, around 1.8 million people participated.
For many Muslims around the world, the Hajj is one of the most important religious experiences of their lives and is also one of the five pillars of Islam.
Because the cost for a pilgrim from abroad can be equivalent to $5,700 or significantly more, some try to get to Mecca through unofficial channels. They enter the country as tourists and then visit the holy sites in Mecca and Medina during the pilgrimage without the required Hajj permit. Locals also try to take part in the pilgrimage without authorization.
