JEDDAH — A team of trained female Passports Department (Jawazat) officials will inspect the identification papers of women pilgrims and ensure their legal status in the Kingdom before letting them start their Haj journey, Ahmad Al-Luhaidan, spokesman of the Passports Department, told Saudi Gazette. “This female team is trained on forgeries and is assigned to inspect female identification cards and check documents before letting women pilgrims cross the security checkpoints,” he added. Penalties will imposed on those attempting to perform Haj without a permit. Those who are caught without Haj permits, will be fingerprinted and their punishments include deportation and bannrf from entering the Kingdom for 10 years,” said Al-Luhaidan. The security checkpoints to enter Makkah include: Al-Shumaisi Highway, Old Al-Shumaisi, Al-Buhaita, Al-Kar, Al-Taneem, Al-Kaakiya, Al-Husayniya and Al-Okaishiya, Al-Luhaidan said. The Directorate General of the Passports Department, he added, has worked on several plans for the Haj season. Among them is “to ease the entry of pilgrims through airports and seaports.” Meanwhile, the Makkah governorate has warned that those arranging unauthorized Haj pilgrimages will be referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution. Saudi vehicle drivers carrying illegal pilgrims will be imprisoned for a year and will have their cars impounded. Saudis violating rules will have their cases referred to the Ministry of Interior, which will set punishments. About 70 Passports Department vehicles will be tracking illegal pilgrims. Besides, 30 security checkpoints have been set up around the holy sites to monitor any violations during the entire Haj season. This year, authorities are also making use of an electronic gadget to detect forged Haj permits.
