In Saudi Arabia, 17,000 people who tried to perform Hajj without permission were arrested

Arab News reports that more than 17,000 people who tried to perform Hajj without permission were arrested in Saudi Arabia.

The head of the Saudi Security Committee, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Bassami, said that a total of 17,615 people were arrested. Among them are 9,509 people who violated the rules of residence, work and border security, as well as 105 people who tried to organize a fake pilgrimage in different parts of the kingdom. All of them were handed over to the prosecutor's office.

Al Bassami added that 202,695 people without Hajj permits were turned away from the entrances to Mecca, and about 129,000 vehicles without licenses to enter Mecca and the holy places were also sent back.

"33 people who transported pilgrims without Hajj permission were arrested, handed over to administrative committees and will be punished," said Muhammad Al-Bassami.

Last week, the annual Hajj pilgrimage took place in the cities of Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia. More than two million people participated in it. This year, for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia has allowed as many people to perform Hajj as it did in pre-pandemic years.

Source: daryo.uz