JEDDAH, 17 January 2007 — Thousands of Egyptians have turned themselves in to Saudi authorities after performing Haj, according to Al-Madinah newspaper.
These people had arrived in the Kingdom to work legally, but overstayed their work/residency visas in order to perform Haj before leaving. They told the newspaper that they decided to perform Haj in this manner because it was less expensive than leaving the Kingdom and returning later on Haj visas.
After several days in custody, the pilgrims were allowed to leave. The newspaper report didn’t say exactly how many pilgrims were being held, but it estimated the number to be in the thousands.
Authorities decided to let the pilgrims go since they were trying to depart anyway.
These pilgrims were a minority considering the hundreds of thousands that have passed through Jeddah Islamic Port this past Haj season, coming from and returning to neighboring countries by sea. Most pilgrims that take the sea route are from the African continent.
Each year Jeddah Islamic Port becomes jammed with pilgrims waiting for passage to return to their countries of origin. In the meantime they set up encampments, sleeping on the ground, preparing food in impromptu camping kitchen and doing laundry in the street.
Authorities issued a warning that they might make diplomatic missions responsible if they do not ensure that the tawwafa organizations (pilgrimage operators) have made prior arrangements for their pilgrims to depart.
Al-Madinah reported that port authorities were preventing the media from interviewing pilgrims about the living conditions as they wait for their passage home.
