Illegal pilgrims a real source of worry

JEDDAH: Undersecretary of the Makkah Governorate Abdul Aziz Al-Khudairy, who is also chairman of the preparatory and executive committees for Haj activities, has urged pilgrims to realize that the rules and regulations introduced by the government to streamline the pilgrimage season were not meant to make them uncomfortable.
“The easy and comfortable performance of the Haj rites is a God-given right for every Muslim,” he said in an exclusive interview with Arab News. He asked Muslims to be always thankful to God who made the Haj a once in a lifetime duty dependent on the person’s capability.
“I hope that all those who do not respect the rules and regulations will realize that by doing so, they will be making the performance of Haj a difficult task,” he said.
Al-Khudairy said illegal pilgrims impede legitimate pilgrims. “Pilgrims who go to Makkah without permits, squat on the streets in the holy sites and dump garbage haphazardly commit downright offenses against legal pilgrims,” he said.
Such offenses would be harmful to those who commit them in the first place, impede the efforts of government departments to serve the guests of God properly and distort the good image of Saudi Arabia. “We hope that all pilgrims will strictly adhere to Haj rules and regulations,” he added.