RIYADH: Anyone trying to enter Hajj sites without permission would be severely penalized, the commander of the Hajj security forces said on Sunday.
Speaking less than two weeks before the dramatically scaled back pilgrimage season begins, Maj. Gen. Zayed Al-Tuyan said this year no Hajj tour guides or their offices will be in operation.
Security control centers in Makkah will monitor anyone violating the rules, and checkpoints will ensure that anyone trying to enter the sites of Hajj without a permit will be prevented from doing so, he said, adding that a complete security cordon will surround the holy sites.
About 2.5 million pilgrims performed Hajj last year but the ongoing scale and spread of COVID-19 worldwide means people will not be able to travel to the kingdom to take part. but with the coronavirus pandemic this year only a limited number of pilgrims who are already living in Saudi Arabia will be able to participate.
In late June, the Saudi government announced Hajj will go ahead but with a “very limited” number of pilgrims allowed to take part.
The decision was taken due to the ongoing threat from the pandemic and to preserve “global public health,” the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said.
Pilgrims taking part will be from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia.
