AfriPulse
Saudi Arabia has reiterated that visit visas, regardless of their types or designations, do not permit their holders to perform Hajj.
The kingdom’s Ministry of Interior stressed that obtaining an official Hajj permit is a fundamental requirement for performing the pilgrimage.
The ministry urged all to adhere to the regulations governing this year’s Hajj season 1447 AH and to cooperate with the competent authorities to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims, emphasising that violations of these instructions will result in legal penalties.
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Meanwhile, security forces have arrested a Yemeni resident for posting fraudulent and misleading advertisements on social media offering fake entry permits to Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
In another incident, Makkah police arrested five Egyptian residents for violating Hajj regulations by entering and staying in Makkah without obtaining a Hajj permit.
Hajj security forces also arrested a Pakistani resident for violating Hajj regulations by transporting five fellow nationals and attempting to enter and stay in Makkah without a Hajj permit.
In another incident, the forces detained an Egyptian resident for violating Hajj regulations by transporting two fellow Egyptians in concealed compartments inside a freight vehicle and attempting to enter and stay in Makkah without a Hajj permit.
The authorities also arrested a Myanmar national for transporting six residents in violation of Hajj regulations and attempting to take them into Makkah.
Ahead of the Hajj season, the Ministry of Interior announced penalties for violating permit regulations to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage.
A fine of up to SR20,000 ($5,330) will be imposed on anyone performing or attempting Hajj without a permit, including visit visa holders who enter or remain in Makkah or the holy sites from April 18 to May 31.
A fine of up to SR100,000 will also apply to anyone who provides or attempts to provide accommodation to visit visa holders, or assists or conceals them, with penalties increasing based on the number of violators.
Infiltrators, including residents and visa overstayers, will be deported and banned from entering the Kingdom for 10 years, the ministry said.
List of illnesses that prevent obtaining Hajj permit
The Saudi Ministry of Health and the Public Health Authority have released a list of illnesses that may prevent pilgrims from obtaining a Hajj permit due to physical incapacity.
The illnesses include advanced kidney failure requiring dialysis, advanced heart failure or liver cirrhosis, severe mental illnesses, dementia, advanced ageing, and pregnancy in the last three months.
Saudi authorities have stressed that pilgrims must meet the health requirements that enable them to perform their rituals with ease and comfort, without any health complications that could compromise their well-being.
The kingdom’s Ministry of Health also mandated that those wishing to perform Hajj this year must be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis, receiving a single dose of the quadrivalent vaccine at least 10 days before the start of the pilgrimage. (SPA, Arab News, Saudi Gazette)
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