SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi security officials set up checkpoints in and around Mecca ahead of the start of the annual haj pilgrimage that begins on October 14

Record ID: 189244

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi security officials set up checkpoints in and around Mecca ahead of the start of the annual haj pilgrimage that begins on October 14
  • Date: 10th October 2013
  • Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 10, 2013) (REUTERS) VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH CHECK POINT MANNED BY SAUDI SECURITY OFFICIALS IN JEDDAH AT THE ROAD LEADING TO MECCA SIGN READING (IN ARABIC) "THE LEGAL HAJ IS WITH PERMISSION" SAUDI SECURITY PERSONNEL MANNING CHECKPOINT TO SEARCH DOCUMENTS OF VEHICLES AND INDIVIDUALS POLICEMAN CHECKING DOCUMENTS OF CAR VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN AND SECURITY PERSONNEL MANNING CHECKPOINT POLICEMAN WITH RIFLE AT CHECKPOINT POLICEMAN ASKING FOR DOCUMENTS FROM A VEHICLE AT CHECKPOINT POLICEMAN CHECKING DOCUMENTS POLICEMAN AT CHECKPOINT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DEPUTY COMMANDER OF ROADS SECURITY SPECIAL FORCES, POLICE COLONEL ABDULAZIZ BIN HAMAD, SAYING "As it is known, the logo of haj this year is the legal haj starts with permission so the special forces of roads represented by special forces of the Mecca area is taking part in manning checkpoints to conduct their duty in this mission, as it did in previous years." VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH CHECKPOINT SECURITY PERSONNEL BUSES ARRIVING AT CHECKPOINT SIGN "NO HAJ WITHOUT PERMISSION" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DEPUTY COMMANDER OF ROADS SECURITY SPECIAL FORCES, POLICE COLONEL ABDULAZIZ BIN HAMAD, SAYING : "The security personnel of roads forces in cooperation with personnel of the passport department in the checkpoints are working on searching and checking the validity of the documents and permissions (of haj). The person who has permission will be allowed into the holy capital but the persons without permission will not be able to do so and they will be sent to the specialized departments to treat them in accordance with the rules." POLICEMEN CHECKING DOCUMENTS AT CHECKPOINTS MORE OF POLICEMAN CHECKING DOCUMENTS AND PERMISSION VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN MANNING CHECKPOINT AT ROAD BETWEEN JEDDAH AND MECCA
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAVJ2KBV6GZSX5BVR65VIPNRHZ
  • Story Text: Dozens of checkpoints were in operation in and around Mecca on Thursday (October 10) as security officials began assessing vehicles and pilgrims ahead of the haj ritual that begins this weekend.
    More than 95,000 security personnel are being deployed to maintain security for an expected two million pilgrims.
    The haj is the largest religious gathering in the world which poses huge logistical and security challenges for Saudi authorities.
    Saudi Roads Security special forces are among those involved, manning roads leading to Mecca, and have begun checking the documents of vehicles and people heading to haj.

    "As it is known, the logo of haj this year is the legal haj starts with permission so the special forces of roads represented by special forces of the Mecca area is taking part in manning checkpoints to conduct their duty in this mission, as it did in previous years," said Police Colonel Abdulaziz Bin Hamad, the deputy commander of special forces of roads security.
    The haj has been marred in previous years by fires, hotel collapses, police clashes with protesters trying to politicise the event, and deadly stampedes caused by overcrowding.
    People who do not possess the required legal permission to attend the haj could be sentenced three years in prison and fined about 5000 Saudi riyal (1800 U.S. dollars).

    "The security personnel of roads forces in cooperation with personnel of the passport department in the checkpoints are working on searching and checking the validity of the documents and permissions (of haj)," Colonel Bin Hamad added.

    "The person who has permission will be allowed into the holy capital but the persons without permission will not be able to do so and they will be sent to the specialized departments to treat them in accordance with the rules."
    Saudi Arabian authorities have asked pilgrims to put politics aside during the annual haj.
    Keenly aware of the potential for political tensions to flare into violence at a time of upheaval across the Middle East, the Saudi Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef on Wednesday (October 9) asked pilgrims to leave disputes at home.
    Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia not only hosts the pilgrimage, but is increasingly involved in the conflicts across the region The kingdom is embroiled in a region-wide contest for influence with Shi'ite Iran, with each side accusing the other of backing Syria's bloody civil war.
    It has also given Egypt billions of dollars to help prop up the economy and support the generals who in July ousted a government led by Mohamed Mursi, a member of the Sunni Islamist movement the Muslim Brotherhood. Saudi leaders see the organization as a direct threat to their dynastic rule.
    As demonstrations by Brotherhood supporters in Egypt are met by a crackdown by government forces, feelings are running high among pilgrims from the most populous Arab nation but they say they do not plan to cause unrest.
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