A security officer checks documents at Shumaisy checkpoint. — Okaz photo Okaz/Saudi Gazette HOLY SITES — Pilgrims caught sneaking into the holy sites without a Haj permit will be fined from next year. The illegal practice forces thousands of legitimate pilgrims to sleep outdoors and Haj authorities are desperate to stamp it out once and for all. A Ministry of Interior spokesman defended the action, saying: “The fines will be imposed in order to ensure that all pilgrims abide by the laws and regulations.” Out of two million pilgrims, 98,321 were turned away since they did not possess the correct papers. On Friday Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki warned: “Illegal pilgrims will be turned back and the smugglers will be referred to the Prosecution and Investigation Commission.” However, many pilgrims ignored the awareness campaign, which forced others to sleep rough. Some pilgrims also expressed their fear that overcrowding could have led to a repeat of the stampedes that had killed hundreds in the past. To avoid this the authorities intensely monitored the traffic flow and cracked down on bogus Haj groups who offered access to the holy sites for just SR1,200. The Emir of Makkah and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, said: “It is disturbing how illegal pilgrims boasted about sneaking in, while many legitimate pilgrims were forced to sleep outdoors.” __
