MAKKAH – Religious scholars have ruled that it is not permissible for Umrah performers to overstay their visas and seek jobs in the Kingdom without returning to their countries. They also said such actions can lead to logistic problems and security concerns at Haj. The pleas came after a campaign was launched by the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry's national committee for Haj and Umrah to crack down on overstayers. The scholars urged citizens and foreigners not to provide shelter to Umrah overstayers, because such actions would make it difficult for the police to catch them Religious scholars and sheikhs hoped the permits issued by the Ministry of Haj would reduce Umrah visa overstayers. The committee seeks to educate citizens and expatriates about the risks involved in providing Umrah overstayers with shelter. Sheikh Salih Al-Feraih, undersecretary for development at the School of Dawa and Shariah at Umm Al-Qura University, said this sort of trend exists throughout the world and can have bad economic, social and security-related consequences. Most Umrah performers decide to remain in the country to see if they can find a job and somehow improve their quality of life, he added. He said: “Most Umrah performers wait patiently for the day they arrive here on Umrah or Haj visas.” Al-Feraih said strict penalties should be imposed on the violators of residency laws here. Deterrent penalties would reduce this trend, he added. Sheikh Fayez Al-Ruwaithi, a Dawa activist based in Makkah, said many Umrah performers who overstay their visas choose to beg on the streets of Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah. He also said that some of those who violate residency laws and stay illegally in the Kingdom get involved in criminal activities. Concerned authorities, citizens, expatriates, recruitment offices and tourist agencies should join forces to fight this trend, he said. He added: “Effective solutions should be designed for this negative trend. “This can only be achieved by conducting an exhaustive field study to explore the entire problem and its factors.” Dr. Mahmoud Kisnawee, professor at the Department of Islamic Education, Umm Al-Qura University, said this problem has been ongoing for a few decades despite efforts to tackle it. He added: “I believe this is due to the increasing number of pilgrims and new laws that allow Umrah performers to come to the Kingdom any time of the year.”
