RIYADH, 12 February — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd yesterday welcomed the pilgrims who have already arrived in the Kingdom and urged them to abide by the rules and regulations set out by the Kingdom for their welfare and security.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet meeting, the king also urged the pilgrims to keep away from all activities that would violate the sanctity of the Haj and cause disturbance to fellow pilgrims. “Pilgrims should cooperate with one another as well as with Saudi officials,” Information Minister Fuad Al-Farsi quoted the king as saying.
More than 900,000 pilgrims have already arrived in the Kingdom from abroad for the annual pilgrimage — the largest gathering of Muslims in the world — scheduled to start on Feb. 21. Saudi Arabia has mobilized all its resources to make the annual event a resounding success.
Interior Minister Prince Naif has said that Saudi Arabia will not tolerate troublemakers during the Haj. “If anyone tries to disturb Haj security, we will not hesitate to confront him with all our might,” Prince Naif warned.
The Saudi authorities are “totally opposed to any gathering or sloganeering or movement” that is not part of the traditional Haj rites, the prince said when asked about possible anti-US protests or support for Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
“Everyone must know that we will not compromise with anyone on issues of security or smooth conduct of the pilgrimage and that no slogans will be allowed, even those in support of the Kingdom,” he added.
The government has mobilized 60,000 employees and volunteers — including more than 10,000 medical staff and doctors — who will be deployed in Makkah and other holy sites on Haj duty.
Al-Farsi said the Cabinet also decided to provide entry visas to expatriate children, aged between three and 18, accompanying their parents to perform Haj and Umrah. Such visas will be given with the approval of the ambassador or those in the same position, making sure that the children will not overstay in the Kingdom. “The Cabinet also urged the authorities to follow the regulations related to the extension of exit and re-entry visas,” Al-Farsi told the Saudi Press Agency.
He said the Cabinet condemned the Israeli atrocities on unarmed Palestinian civilians and called for firm international action to stop Israel’s arrogance and force the Jewish state to implement the relevant UN resolutions and bilateral agreements.
The Cabinet meeting directed the Interior and Health Ministries to take steps to implement the new proposals for combating drugs. It also allowed the Emirates Bank International to open its branch in Riyadh and approved new rules for remuneration of government publications.
