Nearly 270,000 pilgrims without permits stopped from entering Mecca

Published connected 01/06/2025 - 20:57 GMT+2•Updated 21:32

Saudi Arabia has stopped astir 269,678 pilgrims without authorisation from entering Mecca during nan yearly Hajj pilgrimage.

The authorities blames overcrowding astatine nan Hajj connected participants without permits. It besides says they made up ample numbers of nan 1,300 group who died successful past year’s searing summertime heat.

The number of expulsions highlights nan standard of unauthorised pilgrimages, arsenic good arsenic nan request to execute nan Hajj. There are presently an estimated 1.4 cardinal Muslims successful Mecca, pinch much expected to get successful nan coming days.

There are fines of up to $5,000 (€4,400) and different punitive measures, for illustration deportation, for anyone performing nan Hajj without a permit. The argumentation includes citizens and those pinch Saudi residency.

At a property convention successful Mecca, officials said they had stopped 269,678 group without permits from entering. Only licence holders are allowed to execute nan pilgrimage, moreover if they unrecorded successful nan metropolis year-round.

Officials person besides imposed penalties connected much than 23,000 Saudi residents for violating Hajj regulations and revoked nan licenses of 400 Hajj companies.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Omari told nan media: “The pilgrim is successful our sight, and anyone who disobeys is successful our hands.”

The Hajj is nan yearly Islamic visit to Mecca and involves a bid of belief rituals. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime responsibility for each Muslim who tin spend it and is physically capable to do it.

But it has been marred successful caller years by concerns astir utmost temperatures, pinch pilgrims performing their rituals outdoors successful highest daylight hours.

Historically, deaths are not uncommon astatine nan Hajj, which has seen astatine times complete 2 cardinal group recreation to Saudi Arabia for a five-day pilgrimage. It has besides seen fatal stampedes and different accidents.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence said Sunday that drones were being utilized for nan first clip astatine nan Hajj. These tin beryllium utilized for surveillance and monitoring, arsenic good arsenic extinguishing fires.