Manama: The total number of Muslims who performed pilgrimage (Haj) this year was 3,657,000, the head of the Haj Central Commission has said.
The figure was reached through the scientific calculation of the number of pilgrims who went to Mina to symbolically stone the devil, a Haj requirement.
A major indication is that around 500,000 people performed Haj without being officially registered as required by the Saudi laws.
Saudi authorities last week said that 3,161,573 people had signed up to perform Haj.
Foreigners made up more than half of the figure with 1,752,932 from 189 countries while the number of Saudi nationals and Saudi Arabia-based expatriates was 1,408,641. Most of the Saudi-based pilgrims were expatriates working in the kingdom.
“There is a huge number of people who did not sign up for Haj,” Prince Khalid Al Faisal said. “These people have caused grave issues and serious problems. Most of them were expatriates staying in the Saudi kingdom,” he said.
All people, including Saudi nationals, planning to perform Haj must register with an accredited agency. Those who do not register normally do not have access to the sacred areas around Makkah.
Prince Khalid attributed the increase in the number of “irregular” pilgrims to the lack of clear punitive measures.
“We need to make the punitive action clear for the next Haj season. We also need to apply the law strictly and without complacency to ensure the sovereignty of the law. By not applying the law, we do not help the ‘regular’ pilgrims and we compromise the services offered by the kingdom to its guests,” he said.
The Haj authorities build their services on the studies prepared by competent authorities.
“However, when there is a huge number of people who are not officially registered and who illegally share the space and services with the other pilgrims, then we have a serious issue with our studies,” he said.
One suggestion was to build a wall around the sacred areas to ensure that only licensed pilgrims can enter, he said.
The wall will keep violators outside and will deter potential future illegal immigrants.
Prince Khalid said that the Haj season was successful and congratulated the pilgrims and all those who contributed to the success of the annual rituals.
