Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, who is also Chairman of Hajj Higher Committee, vowed that the Kingdom, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is working to make this year's Hajj, as were previous Hajj seasons, a complete success through providing the best facilities and all services that help pilgrims perform this great ritual, citing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Project to Expand the holy Mosque which will increase its pilgrims-accommodation capacity to three folds over the last years, as well as the increase of the area made at the disposal of pilgrims in the other sacred places, in addition to the completion of the construction of most of the ring roads in Makkah, and the sacred places, together with the implementation of the last phase of shuttle transport in the sacred places and implementation of a number of developmental projects in Makkah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah which will contribute to facilitating the move of pilgrims among the sacred places in ease and tranquility. In a meeting with the media today following his patronage of the annual ceremony to inspect the Hajj Security Forces and other relevant bodies in charge of Hajj and pilgrims taking part in the implementation of the general plan for this year's Hajj, he added that the Kingdom has confronted with firmness and decisiveness the terrorist acts over the previous years who did not show respect to the sanctity of religion and souls of the innocent. He said the security forces are ready to face any irresponsible behavior that might tamper the purity of Hajj or the lives of guests of Allah Almighty. The Kingdom categorically prevents the exploitation of this great ritual for political or propaganda purposes, confirming that they would catch whoever dares to do something in this regard and impose on the doers Sharia law, hoping that pilgrims would focus on performing their rituals according to Hajj procedures, particularly performing Hajj in tranquility and dedication to get the reward promised by Allah Almighty and get benefit of the services made available by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. In response to a question, he confirmed that the crane crash incident will have no negative impact on the progress of this year's Hajj as the authorities concerned have successfully wiped out its repercussions in a record time upon directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. 'Hajj programs and plans will go through as prescribed by the authorities, who always assume the worst and make ready for it', he said. He reiterated the readiness of Hajj authorities to deal with any extraordinary development, wishing pilgrims a safe and easy journey. On the occasion of coincidence of the Saudi National Day with Eid Al-Adh-ha this year, the Crown Prince stressed that this is a unique occasion of reminding that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded on the Islamic law and principals, and also reminding that the Kingdom exerts unremitting efforts to serve Islam and Muslims and boost their unity. He said that in this day all Muslims will share us our happiness on the unity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, home of the Two Holy Mosques and the sponsor of the two Holy Mosques. 'It is an honor for our country's leadership and people. So at the beginning of the hajj season for this year, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered doubling efforts to provide the best services and comprehensive care for pilgrims and enable them to perform their rituals easily and smoothly,' he said. Regarding enabling Yemeni pilgrims coming to perform Hajj this year, the Crown Prince explained that it is the honor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to service and take care of all pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors, including pilgrims coming from Yemen. 'But in fact, the Houthi rebels and supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh are those who dare to obstruct Yeminis from performing hajj by damaging the security, safety and stability of Yemen and its people,' he said. 'Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has directed us to provide all facilities for the pilgrims from Yemen to enable them to perform Hajj this year and we are working to achieve it, God willing,' the Crown Prince added. With regard to the two pre-emptive strikes in Riyadh to thwart the schemes that the terrorists were intending to do, the Crown Prince said that 'security services in the Kingdom are fully vigilant and following-up the movements of terrorist groups and their elements at home and abroad, pointing out that the Kingdom remains seriously targeted by these terrorist groups which receive support from some hostile countries and organizations and terrorist groups with multi and varied purposes. He stressed that the Saudi security agencies are working in accordance with effective security methodology to thwart terrorist act before it happens, expose its dimensions and its plans, carry out pre-emptive security operations to prevent terrorist organizations from carrying out their plans and to trace their elements, collaborators, financiers and backers at home and abroad.
