Interior Ministry Affirms Tough Penalties for Transporting Violators of Hajj Regulations

The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed that anyone caught transporting citizens or residents in violation of Hajj regulations would face tough penalties, stressing that obtaining an official Hajj permit is a basic requirement for performing Hajj.
 The ministry stated that transporters of Hajj regulation violators would face fines of up to SAR50,000, imprisonment for up to six months, and possible confiscation of the vehicle by court order.
 It added that if the offender is a foreign resident, they would also be deported after serving the sentence and banned from re-entering the Kingdom for periods specified under the relevant regulations.
 The ministry urged everyone to comply with regulations governing this year's Hajj season and cooperate with the competent authorities to ensure pilgrims' safety and security. It warned that violations expose offenders to penalties.
 The ministry also called on the public to report violations through 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom.