443 Qataris cross land border for Haj
2,038,000 pilgrims expected to perform Haj this year — an 11% increase over last year
More than 440 Qataris Hajis (pilgrims) have so far used the Salwa border crossing to drive into Saudi Arabia and head towards Makkah to perform Haj.
The crossing, shut down on June 5, was re-opened last week following the successful mediation of Shaikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani, a Qatari national who was received by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
“The number of Qatari pilgrims has by 5pm on Monday reached 443,” Prince Khalid Al Faisal, the emir of Makkah and adviser to King Salman, said as he chaired the central Haj committee in Makkah.
The total number of wouldbe pilgrims who have arrived in Saudi Arabia by Monday evening was 1,207,000, he added.
Prince Khalid said he expected 2,038,000 Muslims would perform Haj this year, an increase of 11 per cent over last year.
He added that 235,154 people were turned back from Makkah for violating the regulations governing Haj. Under the regulations, no one, regardless of his or her nationality, is allowed into Makkah if they do not have a valid permit.
Al Faisal said 120,000 vehicles were also turned back for carrying “illegal” Haj aspirants.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly warned that it was applying a zero-tolerance policy towards would-be pilgrims, transporters and Haj operators who failed to comply with the regulations.
Al Faisal also said that Iranians were being treated like all other people keen on performing Haj.
“We welcome all pilgrims and we provide our services without any form of discrimination,” he was quoted as saying.