Saudi authorities arrest 15 Hajj permit violators

Muslim worshippers walk at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Makkah on June 11, 2024 ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 11 June 2024
Follow

Saudi authorities arrest 15 Hajj permit violators

  • Offenders were attempting to transport 71 people

RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia arrested 15 violators of Hajj regulations at the entrances to Makkah after they tried to enter without a valid permit, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Interior announced that the Hajj Security Forces had arrested four residents and 11 citizens, who had attempted to transport 71 people on Monday.

The seasonal administrative committees of the General Directorate of Passports issued 15 administrative decisions against them, including a prison sentence for a period of 15 days for each carrier, and a fine of SR10,000 ($2,666).

The fine will be multiplied by the number of each violator transported, and the expatriate violators will be deported and prevented from entering the Kingdom, according to the legally specified periods after the execution of the sentence. One vehicle used for transportation has also been confiscated.

The Ministry of Interior has called on all citizens and expatriates to abide by Hajj regulations and instructions so that pilgrims can enjoy safety, security and comfort while performing their rituals.


KSrelief helps Gaza patients access lifesaving healthcare

Updated 11 sec ago
Follow

KSrelief helps Gaza patients access lifesaving healthcare

  • Yazan Sami Nasman, 9, receives urgent treatment for lymphatic tumor at Amman’s King Hussein Cancer Center

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief is continuing to support patients from the most vulnerable groups, reflecting the Kingdom’s values of compassion and generosity.

KSrelief funded the treatment of Yazan Sami Nasman, a nine-year-old Palestinian child from the Gaza Strip who was suffering with a tumor in the lymphatic system, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The intervention followed a deterioration in his health, with medical reports indicating the need for advanced treatment and specialized intensive care unavailable in Gaza due to challenges in its healthcare system.

After coordination through official channels, the child was transferred to Jordan for treatment at the King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, the SPA added.

He now undergoes periodic examinations to assess his response to treatment. These are carried out by a specialized pediatric lymphatic tumor team and they help to control his condition and minimize potential complications.

KSrelief signed a cooperation agreement with the King Hussein Cancer Center in 2024 to treat cancer patients from Gaza, aiming to save those deprived of treatment due to difficult healthcare conditions.

This effort is part of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian and medical initiatives through KSrelief, providing essential healthcare to people in need worldwide.

KSrelief last year funded treatment for seven-year-old Eileen Rami Al-Kilani from Gaza at the King Hussein Cancer Center, addressing her colon cancer.

The agency also facilitated surgery for Palestinian child Mira Suhaib Aqqad — who had a congenital heart defect — at King Abdulaziz Medical City.

KSrelief supported six-year-old Mohammed Abdullah Al-Kutnan, who was suffering from neuroblastoma, by urgently transferring him from Gaza to Jordan for treatment.

In addition, KSrelief provided emergency care for three-year-old Seleen Shadi Abdul Salam from Gaza, who is battling acute leukemia.

KSrelief is currently running a specialized project with the King Hussein Cancer Center to treat 150 Palestinian cancer patients from Gaza, at a cost exceeding $3.6 million.