Saudi authorities have detained several Moroccan nationals who violated the Ministry of Hajj's regulations by entering the Kingdom to perform the pilgrimage without an official permit. This crackdown is part of a broader security campaign targeting unauthorized pilgrims. Sources informed Assabah that these Moroccans, who had initially entered Saudi Arabia for Umrah, will face immediate deportation back to Morocco. The campaign, part of the Kingdom's efforts to strictly enforce Hajj regulations, involved extensive checks at security points, Haramain train stations, and holy sites. Violators face fines of over 26,000 Moroccan dirhams, deportation, and bans from re-entering the Kingdom for legally determined periods. These measures reflect Saudi Arabia's commitment to ensuring the safe and organized management of the Hajj season, which welcomes over 1.5 million pilgrims annually. Penalties are severe, including possible imprisonment of up to 15 years, fines of up to 1 million Saudi riyals, and the confiscation of transportation and accommodations used to facilitate these violations.
