SAUDI ARABIA TO IMPOSE 10,000 RIYAL FINE ON ILLEGAL PILGRIMS IN MECCA

Mon 13 July 2020:

Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry confirmed it will be imposing a fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,666) for violators entering the holy sites in Mecca without a permit during the upcoming Hajj season, which will be held in a limited capacity this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement from the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior said the fine would come into effect from July 19 (28 of Dhul Qadah) until August 2 (12 of Dhul Hijjah).

The fine would double to 20,000 Saudi riyals ($5,332) for repeat offenders.

“An official source at the Ministry of Interior called on all citizens and residents to abide by the instructions for the pilgrimage season this year, stressing that security officers will begin their duties in all roads and paths leading up to the holy sites to prevent violations and control any attempt to enter the areas during the specified period,” a statement from the interior ministry released on the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) read.

Saudi Arabia will allow limited Hajj pilgrimage this year due to the continued risk of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Authorities confirmed they have limited the number of pilgrims on this year’s Hajj to 10,000 in line with safety concerns over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Thirty percent of the pilgrims will be Saudi Arabian nationals, with the remaining 70 percent of places reserved for expatriates.

Expatriates who wanted to visit the Kingdom for Hajj were required to register between Monday, July 6, and Friday, July 10. Applicants must produce a PCR test showing they do not have coronavirus.

They also must not have previously performed Hajj, which Muslims are required to perform once in their life, and must be aged between 20 and 50. Applicants are also required to pledge to adhere to the quarantine regulations.

The Saudi Arabian pilgrims will be only health practitioners and security members who have recovered from COVID-19 selected from a database of recovered patients in recognition of their role in fighting the virus, according to the Saudi Gazette.

The deadline for non-Saudi Arabian pilgrims who want to perform the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj this year passed on Friday, meaning that pilgrims can no longer sign up to perform Hajj under the limited capacity imposed by Saudi Arabian authorities to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The pilgrimage is set to take place between Tuesday, July 28, and Sunday, August 2, and is followed by the Islamic holy festival of Eid al-Adha.

Authorities have limited the number of pilgrims on this year’s Hajj to 10,000 in line with safety concerns over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime. Last year, 2.5 million pilgrims performed their Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.

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