Saudi Gazette report Every year security officers exert great efforts to ensure that nothing disrupts the security of the Haj season and the peace of pilgrims. The government mobilizes all its agencies and sectors to ensure that the pilgrims perform the Haj rituals with ease, and to eliminate any possible dangers that might jeopardize the level of security in this important season, Al-Riyadh daily reported. Security plans Maj. Gen. Jaman Al-Ghamdi, assistant of Public Security Director, said the security agencies started working on this Haj's security plan right after the end of the last season. “We always start working on the next year's plan following the end of the previous one. Of course, we ensure that the negative aspects of the previous plan are avoided in this year's plan and the positive ones are bolstered,” he said. The Command and Control Center, which oversees the security situation at the Grand Mosque and the ritual sites, is working at full swing and is ready for this year's Haj. In fact, this is the center that reports any problems to pertinent authorities to take action and control the situation. Currently, the center runs over 5,000 surveillance cameras and this number will increase to 12,000 by the end of the expansion of the Grand Mosque. Intensive inspection visits to the ritual sites are being made to make sure everything is going as planned. The designed plans are flexible and stress the importance of taking swift actions if something goes wrong during the movement of pilgrims from one ritual to another, he explained. Illegal pilgrims Harsh penalties including hefty fines will be imposed on anyone who does not comply with the Haj regulations and fails to apply for a Haj permit. These penalties seek to put an end to those pilgrims who insist on violating the regulations and sitting and sleeping on the roads in Mina and obstruct the road. “The behavior of illegal pilgrims poses a great danger to their fellow legal ones,” he said, calling upon all pilgrims to write their names and contact information on a card or piece of paper and carry it with them so that the Lost and Found Department officials can contact them if they lose their belongings. Full coordination Brig. Ali Al-Rashidi, director of Traffic Safety Department, warns that any vehicles violating the traffic rules for Haj will be impounded and will not be allowed to enter Makkah or the ritual sites. Last year, around 22,000 vehicles were impounded for breaking the rules, he said, stressing the department will take all necessary actions to ensure that the traffic runs smoothly inside Makkah and the ritual sites. Pilgrims should be transported to Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafah in an organized way. “Our officers meet Tawafah guides regularly and explain to them how and busses should move, which roads to take, etc,” he said. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Khelawi, commander of Command and Control Center, said officers will be dispatched to each and every Haj camp in the ritual sites to ensure compliance with the regulations and smooth movement of pilgrims. Helicopters will fly inspection missions around the clock and survey the ritual sites and other important locations in and around Makkah. Anything not normal will be reported to the ground officers to take action immediately. Penalties The Ministry of Interior's new penalties are as follows: • Anyone who transports pilgrims not holding Haj permits will be imprisoned for 15 days and fined not less than SR10,000 for each pilgrim. • Anyone who repeats the above violation will face double the penalty and fine prescribed above. • Expatriate workers who violate the Haj regulations will be deported. The ministry stresses that anyone wishing to perform Haj should follow the rules and apply for Haj permits.
