MINA, 22 January 2005 — Some unusual cases of the good, the bad and the ugly came to light as the Haj entered its fourth day yesterday. These cases were reported as a 13-member panel of judges assigned by the Ministry of Justice began functioning in the Haj areas as part of a comprehensive plan for the speedy disposal of cases and for handling pilgrims’ queries.
In one such case, they came across a “pilgrim” who was detained for moving under suspicious circumstances. A closer scrutiny revealed that the “pilgrim” was in fact a non-Muslim who had donned the seamless white garb as part of his grand design to pick pilgrims’ pockets and line his own purse in the bargain. But the trick didn’t work.
Some cases of fraud and forgery were reported at the slaughterhouse in Mina. Those arrested were found selling forged coupons in hopes of making a fast buck at the expense of unwary pilgrims. But before they could pull a fast one, they were caught and brought to justice.
A mother volunteered to court arrest on behalf of her 12-year-old son who was caught red-handed as a pickpocket. The mother approached the court and asked the judge to sentence her instead. The latter, however, declined her request, saying: “We don’t order punishment against anyone in the absence of full proof.”
The grand design of some light-fingered gentry was foiled by surveillance cameras as they had got into their act near the Jamrat area. The pickpockets were trying to lighten the pilgrims’ purse when they were detected on the cameras.
Dumpsters Shelter Hajis
MAKKAH, 22 January 2005 — Some pilgrims are turning to dumpsters for a good night’s sleep. They say the ubiquitous dumpsters protect them from car exhaust and keep them away from streams of sewage water flowing from nearby bathrooms.
Pilgrims ignored all visible health awareness warning signs that instruct them to keep away from polluted areas — where trash dumpsters fit the description — for a blissful sleep.
Mouse Causes Commotion
MINA, 22 January 2005 — A crazed mouse caused a little commotion on a bus carrying pilgrims. The rodent jumped out of a pilgrim’s handbag, leapt over the heads and shoulders of other pilgrims before disappearing nobody knew where. Women panicked and screamed until the driver stopped the bus and a search was launched for the unwelcome intruder. Calm returned only after a passenger chased out the little pest.
