Saudi Arabia has tightened its security measures for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage and has prevented citizens and residents from entering Makkah without a necessary permit.
The Ministry of the Interior called on Saudi citizens and residents in the Kingdom to abide by the regulations and instructions that stipulate having a Hajj permit to perform this year’s rituals.
It confirmed in an official statement that security forces will prevent those who do not have this permit from entering the holy city of Makkah.
Saudi Arabia is committed to providing security and preventing the exploitation of Hajj to provoke sedition, stressing that it will not tolerate any political or sectarian slogans.
Separately, Egypt’s Mufti Shawqi Allam praised the efforts exerted by the Saudi government to organize this year’s pilgrimage.
The government has worked to develop its efforts and services provided to the two Holy Mosques in accordance with Islam’s Sharia law, he added.
He also hailed the expansion projects of the Holy Mosque’s yard and the constant improvements targeting the infrastructure of holy sites.
The government has established the Hajj Research Center to play a technical advisory role to the Supreme Hajj Committee and the parties concerned with the Hajj and its affairs.
The center monitors all information and collects detailed data on various matters of related to Hajj and pilgrims.
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Passports said about one million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj rituals this year.
