The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that Hajj permits for some local pilgrims have been canceled because they didn’t get their Neisseria meningitis vaccinations.
The ministry just announced that a whopping 90% of pilgrims inside the country are all good to go! They got the special health checkups and vaccinations they needed to stay healthy during the big pilgrimage. This helps prevent them from getting sick while they’re around all those other pilgrims.
The ministry also gave a heads-up to the last 10% of pilgrims who haven’t gotten the Neisseria meningitis vaccine yet. They need to get it ASAP to avoid getting their Hajj permits canceled.
On June 7th, the Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 21 individuals by the Hajj Security Forces. These individuals were attempting to transport 61 pilgrims into Makkah without the requisite Hajj permits.
The arrests occurred at entry points into the holy city. The apprehended group comprised thirteen Saudi citizens and eight expatriates.
Following the arrests of 21 individuals attempting to transport unauthorized pilgrims into Makkah, the seasonal administrative committees under the General Directorate of Passports have issued formal penalties. Each carrier faces a 15-day jail sentence and a fine of 10,000 Saudi Riyals. Notably, the fine amount increases based on the number of unauthorized pilgrims each person transported.
Furthermore, the committees have mandated the publication of the violators’ names in local media at their own cost. This serves as a public deterrent against similar offenses.
For expatriates involved in the scheme, deportation will follow their jail terms. Additionally, they will be barred from re-entering the Kingdom for a specific period dictated by Saudi law.
Finally, the committees are seeking legal action to confiscate the three vehicles used in the unauthorized transport of pilgrims.
In a recent statement, Lieutenant General Muhammad Al-Bassami, Director of Public Security, announced the successful arrest of over 140 fraudulent Hajj companies operating during this year’s pilgrimage season. The Ministry of Interior urged all citizens and expatriates to comply with the established Hajj regulations and guidelines. This ensures a safe and secure environment for all pilgrims to perform their sacred rituals with peace of mind.
