Saudi Arabia stops 269,678 Muslims without Hajj permits from entering Mecca

Saudi officials accidental they person stopped much than 269,000 Muslims without permits for the Hajj pilgrimage from entering Mecca

MECCA, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has stopped much than 269,000 radical without permits for the yearly Hajj pilgrimage from entering Mecca, officials said Sunday, arsenic authorities ace down connected amerciable journeys into the city.

The authorities blames overcrowding astatine the Hajj connected unauthorized participants. It besides says they made up ample numbers of those who died successful past year’s searing summertime heat.

The fig of expulsions highlights the standard of unauthorized pilgrimages — arsenic good arsenic the request to execute the Hajj. There are presently 1.4 cardinal Muslims successful Mecca officially, with much expected to get successful the days to come.

There are fines of up to $5,000 and different punitive measures, similar deportation, for anyone performing the Hajj without a permit. The argumentation includes citizens and those with Saudi residency.

At a property league successful Mecca, officials said they had stopped 269,678 radical without permits from entering the city. According to the rules, lone those with permits are allowed to execute the pilgrimage, adjacent if they live successful the metropolis year-round.

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

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

The Hajj is the yearly Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and involves a bid of spiritual rituals. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime work for each Muslim who tin spend it and is physically capable to bash it.

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

Historically, deaths are not uncommon astatine the Hajj, which has seen astatine times implicit 2 cardinal radical question to Saudi Arabia for a five-day pilgrimage. It has besides seen fatal stampedes and other accidents.

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

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