PHOTO
26 August 2016
Jeddah - The Ministry of Interior has warned expatriates and Saudis against performing Haj without proper documentation.
"Expats will be deported if they are found performing Haj without legal permission or tasreeh," said a text message from the ministry on Thursday. "They will be banned from returning to the Kingdom for 10 years."
In addition to deportation and a 10-year ban on entering the Kingdom, the undocumented expats will also face jail terms and monetary fines.
"For Saudis, the punishment will be a financial penalty or imprisonment, or both," said the ministry's message.
The government has taken a tough line against undocumented pilgrims who go to perform Haj without documentation and proper arrangements for their stay at the holy sites.
In the past, undocumented pilgrims from within the Kingdom, mostly expats, have been a major obstacle to providing quality services to the genuine and documented pilgrims.
The illegal pilgrims often pitch their tents in the middle of streets, impeding the easy movement of pilgrims in the tent city of Mina.
In Jeddah and other cities, public notices have been plastered on billboards warning people: "No Permit, No Haj."
The government's measures have been widely welcomed by expat community leaders, scholars and elders.
Maulana Najeeb Qasmi Sambhali, the Riyadh-based Islamic scholar of Indian origin, said nobody should go on Haj without proper documentation. "The Saudi government is doing the right thing," he told Arab News on Friday. "Nobody should violate the law of the land."
Explaining the government's decision in an easily understandable way, he said, "When we organize a small event in our homes, we want to make sure who we have invited and who is coming so that we can take good care of our guests. If there are gate-crashers, then it will put the host in an embarrassing and possibly difficult situation."
When pilgrims make the proper arrangements, including documentation, the Saudi government gets a fair idea of what is required and needed. He said the process of registering for Haj has become very easy.
"Everything is done online. It is simple. I did it myself this year. The only time I had to go out was for the vaccination. Significantly, the cost of Haj has come down dramatically. It was SR8,000 per pilgrim from within the Kingdom last year but this year, it is only SR3,000," he said.
In any case, Haj is not mandatory for those who are not financially or physically able to perform the rituals.
The Indian scholar said he knew of two specific cases of expats who were deported for performing Haj without documentation last year.
"At the Haj, they were fingerprinted by the Passport Department's mobile units and when the time came for the renewal of their residency permits, they were arrested and deported," he said. "The government is serious and I appeal to all, and request everyone to cooperate with the government and abide by the law."
Jeddah - The Ministry of Interior has warned expatriates and Saudis against performing Haj without proper documentation.
"Expats will be deported if they are found performing Haj without legal permission or tasreeh," said a text message from the ministry on Thursday. "They will be banned from returning to the Kingdom for 10 years."
In addition to deportation and a 10-year ban on entering the Kingdom, the undocumented expats will also face jail terms and monetary fines.
"For Saudis, the punishment will be a financial penalty or imprisonment, or both," said the ministry's message.
The government has taken a tough line against undocumented pilgrims who go to perform Haj without documentation and proper arrangements for their stay at the holy sites.
In the past, undocumented pilgrims from within the Kingdom, mostly expats, have been a major obstacle to providing quality services to the genuine and documented pilgrims.
The illegal pilgrims often pitch their tents in the middle of streets, impeding the easy movement of pilgrims in the tent city of Mina.
In Jeddah and other cities, public notices have been plastered on billboards warning people: "No Permit, No Haj."
The government's measures have been widely welcomed by expat community leaders, scholars and elders.
Maulana Najeeb Qasmi Sambhali, the Riyadh-based Islamic scholar of Indian origin, said nobody should go on Haj without proper documentation. "The Saudi government is doing the right thing," he told Arab News on Friday. "Nobody should violate the law of the land."
Explaining the government's decision in an easily understandable way, he said, "When we organize a small event in our homes, we want to make sure who we have invited and who is coming so that we can take good care of our guests. If there are gate-crashers, then it will put the host in an embarrassing and possibly difficult situation."
When pilgrims make the proper arrangements, including documentation, the Saudi government gets a fair idea of what is required and needed. He said the process of registering for Haj has become very easy.
"Everything is done online. It is simple. I did it myself this year. The only time I had to go out was for the vaccination. Significantly, the cost of Haj has come down dramatically. It was SR8,000 per pilgrim from within the Kingdom last year but this year, it is only SR3,000," he said.
In any case, Haj is not mandatory for those who are not financially or physically able to perform the rituals.
The Indian scholar said he knew of two specific cases of expats who were deported for performing Haj without documentation last year.
"At the Haj, they were fingerprinted by the Passport Department's mobile units and when the time came for the renewal of their residency permits, they were arrested and deported," he said. "The government is serious and I appeal to all, and request everyone to cooperate with the government and abide by the law."
© Arab News 2016
