Riyadh, July 08: Saudi Arabia has slapped a
temporary ban on all Muslims from Pakistan and Syria from
performing minor pilgrimage to the kingdom because of visa
irregularities, a newspaper reported today.
Al-Watan said the ministry of Haj (pilgrimage) issued the
ban because of widespread "trading in Umrah visas" last year
that left around 10,000 pilgrims from the two countries
stranded in Saudi Arabia.
According to the ministry, the pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia on false visas and were unable to leave the kingdom because of financial difficulties.
Saudi companies and their agents in Pakistan and Syria
will now have to ensure that pilgrims pay all expenses in
advance, as well as supplying their full names, date of
arrival and hotel bookings in Saudi Arabia, as a prerequisite
for obtaining a visa.
The ministry was also in contact with officials in Sudan
and Yemen to verify reports of similar visa irregularities. A
similar ban will be imposed if the reports were found to be
true, it said.
Of the two million Muslims who travelled to Islam's holy
city of Mecca to perform Umrah last year, around 190,000 were
from Pakistan and 120,000 from Syria.
Bureau Report
