JEDDAH, 15 February — Saudi authorities have given permission to 28 Egyptian pilgrims who arrived in the Prince Muhammad Airport in Madinah on forged visas to enter the Kingdom and proceed on their Haj pilgrimage. They were issued with valid pilgrim visas on the orders of Madinah Governor Prince Muqrin.
The group of 28 men and women, aged between 50 and 60, arrived at the airport on Monday morning on a Saudia flight from Cairo.
Abdul Halim Abd Rabbo, one of the pilgrims, told Al-Madinah newspaper they had no idea their visas were forged. They had, like thousands of others, sought the services of the Egyptian Daressalam Tourism Company in Mansoura, which claimed it could get their Haj visas stamped at the Saudi Arabian Embassy.
“On our arrival at Madinah airport we were asked to wait for some time. We were then informed that our visas were forged. However, we were provided with food and drink and blankets during our 24-hour stay. Then, in the morning, a representative of Prince Muqrin came to us with the good news that we will be allowed to proceed on the Haj!” he said.
Hammoud Awarah, another pilgrim in the group, said: “We respect the rules and regulations of every country. But we are the victims of a group of swindlers.” According to a statement of Rida Omar Ahmad, head of the Egyptian Tourist Haj delegation, the Daressalam company claimed that the visas for the group were issued by the Saudi mission in Berlin.
