MAKKAH, 31 October — The Passports Department arrested 1,500 violators of iqama (residence) and labor regulations in a series of sweeping operations in the interior districts of the holy city of Makkah last Sunday and Monday.
The officials of the Haj and Umrah division at the Passports Department combed all the likely places which the violators of the residence regulations believed to be safe. They had stayed over in Makkah after performing the Haj or Umrah.
Under Lt.-Col. Khaled Al-Zahrani’s command the investigation teams on Sunday started inspecting every location in the back districts of Makkah, where overstayers are used to assembling. The operation will last till the beginning of holy month of Ramadan.
In the first day’s search the team captured 800 people engaged in a range of trades and professions. Most of them had gained entry into the country using illegal means.
On Monday the inspection team arrested 600 violators of Umrah regulations. Many of the arrested said no Umrah organizations had been at the airport or sea port to meet them on their arrival.
Umrah regulations stipulate that the travel agents should receive all visitors at the airport, provide them with transport and accommodation. Abandoned, and without the money to rent an apartment, they started looking for temporary jobs.
An arrested violator, Mahmood Muhammad, said "I knew that working is a clear violation of the Kingdom’s regulations. I did not find the representatives of the Umrah organization to receive me at the sea port. I had no choice but to call a taxi to Makkah and seek a work as a painter after finishing my religious rites."
Another overstaying, pilgrim Jamal Muataz said when he came to Makkah three months ago his fellow countrymen persuaded him to stay and work with them. They promised good wages.
They said, "You can make money until the police catch you".
Maids network busted: The inspection team also busted a secret network of maids employing 115 women who had fled from their sponsors.
Each one was paid a monthly wage of SR800, which was better than what their legal sponsors had been giving them. They admitted that they were aware of their violations but were forced to earn money to support their families back home.
