Al Arabiya news agency reports that Saudi Arabia said on June 8 that security forces had cleared hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca ahead of the Hajj which begins next week.
Crowd management is reportedly a major concern during the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, which according to official figures, drew more than 1.8 million Muslims last year.
Those turned away in recent days from the holy city, home to the Grand Mosque, include 153,998 foreigners who traveled from abroad on tourist visas rather than the required hajj visas, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.
In addition, Saudi authorities have rounded up 171,587 others who are based in Saudi Arabia but are not residents of Mecca and did not have Hajj permits, SPA said.
The Hajj, which begins on June 14, must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims with the means.
It involves a series of rituals completed over at least four days in Mecca and its surroundings in the west of Saudi Arabia.
Many seek to complete the rites through unofficial channels as obtaining the formal permits and travel packages can be extremely costly, with limited quotas for pilgrims from each country.
According to Al Arabiya, Mecca regional authorities said on X (formerly known as Twitter) that more than 1.3 million registered pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj as of June 8.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on June 9 urged pilgrims to get their required vaccinations to avoid the cancellation of their Hajj permits.
Al Arabiya reports that according to the ministry, pilgrims must ensure they get the meningococcal vaccine to prevent the spread of infections that are common in crowded conditions.
A minority have chosen to decline the vaccine, resulting in the regrettable revocation of their Hajj permits,” the ministry said in a statement on X, according to Al Arabiya.
“By the grace of Allah 90 percent of local pilgrims have diligently complied with preventative health measures, receiving vaccinations to safeguard not only their own well-being but also that of their fellow pilgrims.”
The ministry said it “earnestly urges” all remaining domestic pilgrims to promptly obtain the vaccine.
