The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior has banned the waving of political or sectarian flags during the performance of Hajj rites in Makkah.
The authorities gave the warning in an advisory statement posted on its X handle on Wednesday, titled “Instructions and Guidelines for Hajj 1446 AH.”
The advisory was given ahead of the pilgrims’ journey from Madinah to Makkah for the Hajj rites.
“Raising political or sectarian flags, and chanting are strictly prohibited within the holy sites,” the advisory read.
The ministry equally imposed sanctions of 20,000 Riyals for persons found performing or attempting to perform the Hajj rites without a permit or attempting to enter or remain in Makkah beyond the days of the holy rites.
Similarly, a fine of 100,000 Riyals and up to 10 years ban was imposed on any individual who assisted anyone in applying for a visa without a permit, or transported or attempted to transport holders of visiting visas to Makkah or any of the holy sites.
“The regulations and instructions stipulate that a Hajj permit must be presented to security personnel at all entrances leading to the holy sites. Transporting those who do not hold Hajj permits is a violation that warrants punishment.
“A financial penalty of up to 20,000 Riyals shall be imposed on: whoever is apprehended while performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a permit.
“Any individual holding any type of visa who enters, attempts to enter or remain in the city of Makkah or the holy sites, starting from the first day of Dhul-Qi’dah until the end of the 14th day of Dhul-Hijjah, will be penalised.
“A financial penalty of up to 100,000 shall be imposed on any individual who submits a request to issue any type of visa for a person who performs or attempts to perform Hajj without a permit, or enters or remains in the city of Makkah or the holy sites,” the statement noted.
It added that Illegal Hajj infiltrators from among residents and visa overstay shall be deported to their home countries and banned from entering the Kingdom for 10 years.
A Nigerian pilgrim currently in Madinah for the Hajj exercise, who declined to be named, told our correspondent that there was no ban on the use of cameras or phones as earlier reported.
A report had earlier stated that the Kingdom banned the use of cameras and phones.
The Nigerian pilgrim, however, said there was only a general advisory to avoid anything that may affect the focus on the spiritual exercise.
“There’s no such ban. Rather, there was a general advisory to pilgrims to avoid doing anything that would take away the spiritual focus of their pilgrimage. This is from a Saudi official,” he said.
On the issue of the raising of sectarian or political flags, the pilgrim stated, “I’d think that to be part of the distractions. Pilgrims, for years, used their national colours as part of their identifiers – scarves, caps, small umbrellas etc.
“What will be frowned upon is using any of the sacred sites for any form of protest or demonstration.
“Though not officially spelt out if done, the county of origin of the participants will be fined or appropriate sanctions applied.”
At the time of filing this report, the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Fatima Usara, could not be reached for comments, as her phone was switched off.
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