JEDDAH, 26 December 2006 — Security officials announced yesterday that so far they have turned away approximately 9,000 citizens and expatriates from entering Makkah because they did not go through proper channels for performing the pilgrimage.
As of yesterday, officials say that 1.5 million pilgrims from abroad and 50,000 local citizens and expatriates have arrived at the holy cities.
The Haj will begin on Thursday, with the pilgrims assembling in the valley of Mina.
Security has been tightened at Makkah’s seven road entry points as authorities have increased vigilance this year in an attempt to mitigate crowd-control issues or other problems related to unregulated entry.
Officials have estimated that they may be turning away up to 25,000 people who have not obtained permits.
Saudi authorities banned expatriates without Haj permits from entering Makkah as of Dec. 5. Only expatriates with permits entitling them to enter the holy city or those who work there will be allowed in.
The ban will remain in force until Friday the ninth of Dul Hijjah, the day of the ritual standing at Arafat which is central to the pilgrimage.
Officials have announced that only Makkah residents would be free to come and go as they please, but even they are inconvenienced by more street closures and crowd control procedures.
Gen. Abid Kateb, chief commander of the Haj security forces and deputy director of the Passport Department for Haj and Umrah, said they have boosted personnel at checkpoints and he vowed that police would be checking everyone.
Kateb also warned people driving into Makkah to ensure that their passengers have their papers in order.
It is illegal in Saudi Arabia to transport undocumented migrants.
At dawn on Friday, they will begin moving toward Arafat where they will spend the day asking for God’s forgiveness. The pilgrims will leave Arafat after sunset and stay at Muzdalifah overnight.
On Saturday morning, they will return to Mina where they will spend the next three or four days during which they will sacrifice sheep and stone pillars representing Satan in a symbolic renunciation of evil.
