The Saudi authorities imposed a fine of about $2,666 against 288 people who violated the Hajj regulations, while the Kingdom receives one million Muslims from around the world to perform rituals this week, after two years of significantly reducing numbers against the background of the Corona epidemic.
The commander of Hajj security forces, Lieutenant-General Muhammad Al-Basami, said in a press conference, Monday: “63 violating fake campaigns were seized, and 288 citizens and residents violated the regulations of Hajj, and the penalty imposed on them was applied to ten thousand Saudi riyals,” or about 2,666 dollars.
Video | Commander of Hajj Security Forces, Lieutenant-General Muhammad Al-Basami: Seizing 63 fake violating campaigns and applying regular penalties against 288 citizens and residents who violated Hajj regulations, returning about 69 thousand violating cars, and seizing more than 2,000 violators of residency regulations who tried to perform Hajj in an irregular manner#peace_safe#news pic.twitter.com/EAnK2HcbkV
– News Channel (@alekhbariyatv) July 4, 2022
He added that about 69,000 violating cars were returned and more than 2,000 violators of residency regulations who tried to perform Hajj in an irregular manner were seized.
The commander of the Passports Forces in Hajj, Saleh al-Murabba, warned in the press conference that “the penalty for transporting violating pilgrims is six months’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 for each person.”
Video | Commander of the Passport Forces in Hajj Major General d. Saleh al-Murabba: The penalty for transporting violating pilgrims is 6 months imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 for each person#peace_safe#news pic.twitter.com/w0q99zrGoo
– News Channel (@alekhbariyatv) July 4, 2022
The square indicated that the stage of the arrival of pilgrims from outside the Kingdom through all ports has been completed.
Video | Commander of the Passport Forces in Hajj Major General d. Saleh Al-Murabba: The stage of the arrival of pilgrims from outside has completed #The kingdom through all ports#peace_safe#news pic.twitter.com/uv18rHfJYp
– News Channel (@alekhbariyatv) July 4, 2022
And the authorities had warned earlier against attempting to perform the Hajj in Makkah Al-Mukarramah without a permit, as Saudi Arabia allows this year one million people from inside and outside the Kingdom who were chosen through the lottery system to participate in the annual rituals.
In 2019, about 2.5 million pilgrims from all over the world participated in the rituals. But the outbreak of the Corona virus then forced the Saudi authorities to significantly reduce the number of pilgrims, as 60,000 citizens and residents participated in two restaurants from inside the Kingdom in 2021, compared to a few thousand in 2020.
Only holders of Hajj permits are allowed to enter the holy city for Muslims during this year’s Hajj season.
Before the epidemic, the pilgrimage included large crowds in open places and in closed or narrow places, so this year, attention is focused on fears of a new outbreak of the virus.
And last June, the kingdom said that masks will no longer be necessary in most places, but they will remain mandatory in the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
This year’s pilgrimage is restricted to Muslims who have been vaccinated under the age of 65. Those coming from abroad must submit a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken within 72 hours of travel.