MAKKAH, 27 January 2004 — Al-Shemaisi Passport Department on the Jeddah-Makkah Highway has detained 94 men in women’s clothes who were trying to enter Makkah without Haj permits, Al-Madinah daily reported. The violators were taken to the expatriate administration in Makkah. Some Saudi drivers were also held for questioning.
In a similar development, police and Passport Department officials arrested 100 overstayers planning to perform Haj. They will be kept in detention while police investigate the Saudi building owner who provided them shelter. The overstayers did not leave after performing Umrah and were waiting to perform Haj. Police will impose a fine of SR1,000 on Umrah officials for each illegal overstayer and SR3,000 per overstayer on the owner of the house.
