Illegal pilgrims in Saudi Arabia risk deportation and 10-year ban on re-entry

Riyadh: Muslim foreigners residing in the kingdom have been warned by the Saudi authorities against participating in next month’s Haj pilgrimage without official permits.

According to Saudi media, the expatriate violators will face deportation and a ban from re-entering the kingdom for 10 years.

Saudi nationals and foreign residents will not be allowed into Makkah without the official permit and they will be penalised, told the country’s General Security Department.

Those wishing to perform the Haj are required to obtain the required permit beforehand. Operators of buses carrying illegal pilgrims will also face unspecified penalties.

As reported by Gulf News, anyone caught transporting such pilgrims will be jailed for 15 days and fined 10,000 Saudi riyals for each illegal pilgrim. The repeat offender is liable to two-month imprisonment and a fine of 25,000 riyals for each pilgrim.