MAKKAH: The Emir of Makkah has described the 2010 Haj pilgrimage as “driven by hope”, following the introduction of the new train service to ease congestion and bus services whisking pilgrims across the holy sites in half an hour. Speaking at the launch of the 3rd national Haj regulations awareness campaign in Makkah Saturday, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said that other measures would also assist in addressing congestion. “Small vehicles with a passenger capacity of less than 25 will be barred from the holy sites, thereby keeping out over 30,000 vehicles of local pilgrims during the Haj season,” he said. “And a one-way bus trip across the holy sites will take no more than half an hour under new transport arrangements.” The Emir warned Haj operators, however, that they face investigation and punishment if they attempt to “deceive pilgrims”, but praised the success of the “No Permit, No Haj” law. “The Haj permit regulation has cut out many violations in the Haj season, notably squatting and blocking of traffic. It was brought in to promote an organized and systematic Haj and has proved successful over the last two years, and I thank the government bodies and media outlets that have enabled that to happen,” he said. Prince Khaled also appealed to philanthropists providing food and drink to pilgrims without permits to instead pay for their Haj expenses and have them hosted with Haj operators, and also urged tighter security at Makkah entry points to end the issue of pilgrims without permits and mitigate against the consequences of persons on unauthorized pilgrimages. “The national Haj awareness campaign has come to enforce respect for the location, for human beings, and for the law,” Prince Khaled said. “Respect for the place seeks to establish the culture of the holy land. Respect for human beings lies in the proper treatment of pilgrims. Respect for the law lies in adherence to the regulations introduced to serve the Guests of Allah.”
