JEDDAH — The Saudi authorities are exercising strict control over the entry of unlicensed and illegally arriving pilgrims to holy city of Makkah for the forthcoming Haj.Makkah police have set up 69 checkpoints on various roads leading to the holy city with the aim of closing every likely entry routes used by the unlicensed and illegally arriving pilgrims. The huge number of unlicensed or overstaying Umra pilgrims (pilgrims who came for Umrah recently and stayed on to perform Haj illegally), adds to the bulging numbers of pilgrims and upsets Haj plans in the holy sites.
| How can you perform Haj illegally? Old Mo' hisself told the faithful to do it, sez so in their holy book. You could look it up. |
According to the ministry, it is the responsibility of the Passport Department to intercept the illegally arriving pilgrims and thus guarantee that only those with official Haj permits enter Makkah during the season. Ministry officials and Makkah police tackle the overstaying pilgrims within the city limits. If any Haj establishment is found to be providing accommodation for illegal pilgrims in its tents at the holy sites, that is penalised. In the first stage of the Haj season, which began on December 4, the Traffic Department banned the entry of cars in the Central Zone (the roads surrounding the Grand Mosque) an hour before and after the obligatory prayers.