Colonel Talal bin Abdul Mohsen bin Shalhoub, spokesman for security at the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior, confirmed the success of security planning for the 2024 Hajj season.
In an interview with Al Arabiya, Colonel Al Shalhoub stressed that the success of these security measures is a testament to the coordinated efforts between the various security, military and government agencies, which allow pilgrims to carry out their rituals in safety, peace and tranquility.
He reported that 1,079 out of a total of 1,301 deaths during the Hajj season, or 83 percent, were people without Hajj permits, and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.
According to SPA, Colonel Al Shalhoub also stressed active efforts to strengthen media and awareness campaigns against performing Hajj without authorization and to enforce tougher penalties against violators. He noted that some individuals are misusing visit visas and other visas that are not specific to Hajj.
Moreover, Col. Al-Shalhoub pointed out that some tourist companies in some brotherly countries are deceiving visiting visa holders by issuing non-Hajj visas and encouraging them to violate the rules by staying in the holy city two months before the Hajj season.
He stressed that the Hajj permit is not just a transit card, but a crucial tool to facilitate access to pilgrims, identify their location and provide them with the care and services they need quickly. Without the permit, some violators face difficulties in providing services and medical care.
Colonel Al Shalhoub referred to the continuous updates through the Public Security’s official social media accounts on the arrest and transfer to the prosecution of those promoting fake Hajj campaigns, and appreciated the strict measures taken by some brotherly countries against these fraudulent companies, as well as the corrective measures implemented to prevent future violations.
