By Neelam Rahim

Saudi Arabia has announced that it’ll impose a $2,665 (10,000 riyals) fine against pilgrims attempting to perform the Hajj without a permit.

Saudi Arabia’s general security said pilgrims must obtain a Hajj permit from the relevant entities before attempting to perform the Muslim rituals.

In the statement posted on Twitter, Brigadier Sami bin Mohammed Al-Shuwairkh urged pilgrims to strictly follow Hajj instructions while stressing that security forces would “fulfil their duties” in securing routes resulting in the Grand Mosque in Makkah. And, therefore, the remainder of the holy premises to stop any violations.

Saudi Arabia earlier said it permitted over one thousand pilgrims from overseas to perform Hajj this year for the primary time in two years of COVID-19 restrictions, which limited the pilgrimage to residents of the dominion.

Pertinently, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah decided to issue Haj permits to just one million pilgrims this year from inside and out of the dominion, in continuation of the preventive measures against COVID-19 while easing these measures from the previous year.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that eligible pilgrims this year must be under 65, fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and present negative PCR test results of a sample collected within 72 hours from departure to the dominion.

Haj 2022 officially begins on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah and ends on the 13th day of the identical Islamic month. This year it falls between July 7 to12.