Hajj is one of the foundational pillars of Islam and billions of Muslims undertake this pilgrimage each year. For those who may not be aware, Hajj Pilgrims require a special permit in order to legally perform Hajj. Without this permit, one can be barred from it and even be penalised heavily. Recently, the authorities in Saudi Arabia, home to the religious capital for billions of Muslims, have turned back visit visa holders who were trying to illegally perform Hajj.
Saudi Arabia Sends Back Over 256,000 Visit Visa Holders
أبرز ما جاء في المؤتمر الصحفي لحج 1445هـ – 2024م .
#يسر_وطمأنينة pic.twitter.com/xbUgnobBUN
— وزارة الداخلية (@MOISaudiArabia) June 14, 2024
According to an article which was recently published by Siasat, a whopping 256,481 visit visa holders were caught trying to perform Hajj illegally. They were subsequently prevented from doing so and were sent back.
This was announced on Friday, June 15, 2024, by Colonel Talal Al-Shalhoub. He is the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This announcement was made by him during the daily press conference for the Hajj season 1445 AH-2024.
As per his statement cited in the Siasat article, since April 16, 2024, the authorities in Saudi Arabia have managed to seize a total of 160 fake campaigns. In addition to this, since May 4, 2024, they have also managed to seize as many as 135,098 vehicles.
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The Siasat article also went on to mention that between May 4, 2024, and June 14, 2024, as many as 250,381 non-residents of Makkah have been sent back. As per the authorities of Saudi Arabia, this move is being undertaken with the aim of safeguarding the pilgrims.
What is more, the authorities highlighted their commitment to the safety of the legal pilgrims. This is a testament to their unwavering commitment to pilgrim safety which, they mentioned, they cannot compromise under any circumstances whatsoever.
Hajj is the most important spiritual undertaking in a Muslim person’s life and the authorities want to do due diligence in guarding a pilgrim’s interest.
Have you or someone you know undertaken the pilgrimage? Let us know in the comments section below!
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