Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Commander of Hajj Security Forces and Deputy Director of Public Security Maj. Gen. Zayed Al-Tuwyan said that pilgrims without a Hajj permit would not be allowed to enter the Holy Sites.

He also noted that all persons who are not immune by coronavirus vaccine would be out of the periphery of the Hajj operation either for performance of the rituals or part of the agencies that engages in serving the pilgrims.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Al-Tuwyan said that there would also be permits for those associated with serving the pilgrims at the Holy Sites.

“The number of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj has been determined on the basis of the precautionary measures that have been taken to stem the spread of coronavirus.

“Though the Kingdom used to organize Hajj with the participation of huge number of pilgrims, the unprecedented pandemic situation forced to limit the number of pilgrims as part of measures to ensure their safety,” he said.

Al-Tuwyan said that all pilgrims would be received through four entrances only. Punitive measures will be taken against violators of regulations and infiltrators to the Holy Sites.

The four entrances in Makkah, include Al-Shmeisi and Al-Tanim road, the entrance of Al-Seil road, the entrance of Al-Hada road and those coming on the train, where arrivals will be sorted and relevant forces will check their permits before being transported through busses from these locations.

He said that all the authorities concerned with Hajj security have completed their preparations to ensure a safe and hassle-free Hajj. “No pilgrim will be allowed to go to the Holy Sites individually, whether within Makkah or from outside,” he added.

For his part, Maj. Gen. Abdulaziz Bin Misad, assistant commander of the Hajj and Umrah Special Forces for Road Security, noted that road security is responsible for the security checkpoints at the Makkah entrances and Holy Sites through 10 centers.

Maj. Gen. Misad said that this year’s Hajj will have an undercover force for patrols that works to ensure enforcing preventive measures on the road, in addition to benefiting from modern and advanced technologies through electronic applications and monitoring vehicles electronically to ensure their legal entry.

Commander of the Civil Defense Maj. Gen. Hmoud Bin Suleiman Al-Faraj said that the directorate has completed its preparations and now is ready to apply all general and detailed plans, in addition to the emergency plan.

He added that there will be patrols for security and safety to preserve the security and comfort of pilgrims and their locations round the clock, noting that the plan includes stationing Civil Defense forces at all sites of Hajj in the Holy Sites, Makkah and the Grand Mosque and will be provided with the qualified human resources and modern vehicles, in addition to having a rapid response force for emergencies.

Commander of the Passport Forces in Hajj Maj. Gen. Saleh Bin Saad Al-Mirbi said that the directorate has formed seasonal administrative committees that work around the clock at four centers in Makkah, including Al-Shmeisi Center, Al-Tanim Center, Al-Bheitah Center and Al-Karr Center to issue immediate administrative decisions against violating carriers who transfer pilgrims without permits.

He noted that the penalties against those who transfer of pilgrims without permits for the first time reach SR10,000 for each pilgrim and imprisonment for 15 days for each pilgrim that was carried without a permit and deportation if he is a non-Saudi after serving the penalty term, and he will be banned from entry to the Kingdom according to the period set in the law, in addition to issuing a judicial decision to confiscate the used transport mean if it belongs to the carrier.

If the violation is perpetrated for a second time, the fine will be SR25,000 for each pilgrim that was transported without a permit, two-month prison term and deportation if he is a non-Saudi after serving the penalty term and he will be banned from entry to the Kingdom according to the period set in the law, in addition to issuing a judicial decision to confiscate the used transport mean.

If the violation is perpetrated for a third time, the fine will be SR50,000 for each pilgrim that was transported without a permit, six-month prison term and deportation if he is a non-Saudi after serving the penalty term and he will be banned from entry to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia according to the period set in the law, in addition to issuing a judicial decision to confiscate the used transport mean.