six people were sentenced to punishments including imprisonment and fines for assisting pilgrims without Haj permits enter Makkah during the last pilgrimage season. The fines reached a total of just over SR1 million and prison terms ranged from six months to one year, in accordance with guidelines from the Council of Ministers. The largest single fine of SR150,000 was handed to one person who helped 15 pilgrims without permits enter the city. The rulings, which came from the Administrative Committee at the Directorate General for Passports, were announced by Shu'ail Al-Mattrafi, Director of the Expatriates Deportation Department in Makkah. Authorities clamped down on pilgrims trying to enter the holy sites during the pilgrimage last year. Prince Kahled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, instructed the authorities to arrest and deport any foreigner trying to sneak into the holy sites illegally. Hundreds of people were prevented from entering the holy sites following the instructions from the Makkah Emir. Authorities had informed the pilgrims in advance about the impending stricter rules barring the entry of illegals into the holy sites.
