:salam2:
IslamOnline.net & News Agencies
Up to 2.5 million Muslims performed hajj this year. (Reuters)
MAKKAH — As tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims are readying themselves to return home after performing hajj, hundreds of illegal immigrants who entered the kingdom on hajj visas are staying behind, fading undetected into Saudi life.
"They come here and misuse our hospitality," Abdulaziz, a Saudi, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Saturday, December 22.
After each year's hajj, hundreds of people skip their return flights, in search of a better life in the oil-rich Gulf country.
They enter Saudi Arabia on a visa to perform hajj or `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).
In most cases, the supposed pilgrims skip hajj altogether, never even showing up at the lodgings booked for them.
"It is even like lying to God," said Abdulaziz. "At the end of the day, it's our fault for providing them with a job."
"They engage in odd jobs like gardening, car washing, even shepherding out in the desert," added Fahad, another Saudi.
He said they get paid as little as 300 to 500 riyals (80 to 135 dollars) a month.
There is no official figures on the number of overstayers — known by Saudis as mutekhalifeen (lawbreakers) — each year.
But Saudi newspapers frequently run stories about the arrest of dozens of people, with some implicated in drug-running and other crimes.
According to an official report issued by the General Statistics Department, 2,454,325 pilgrims performed hajj this year.
This number includes 1,707,814 pilgrims who came from 181 countries and 746,511 from within the Kingdom.
A large number of overstaying Umra pilgrims also joined the hajj to further boost the final count.
Pilgrims held Friday, December 21, a mass farewell visit to the Ka`bah, ending hajj.
Most of the pilgrims earlier performed their third stoning of walls representing the devil and left the Mina area for Makkah . Those unable to leave by sunset were staying a third night in the area.
Forgotten Slum
In Makkah, what appeared to be a forgotten slum has emerged recently to accommodate hajj illegal immigrants.
These twilight zones are in narrow, litter-covered streets, with old flats and poorly stocked shops.
The dreams of a better life often come to an abrupt end when police raid on their dwellings.
Once detained, illegal immigrants are locked up until the paperwork is done for them to be sent home.
Saudi authorities have also tightened punishment on those employing illegal immigrants.
They can be fined tens of thousands of riyals, jailed or both.
"We will implement a new system that will intensify the punishment," Saudi interior minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz has said.
He warned Saudis not to employ or provide shelter or transportation for the illegal immigrants, adding that "the punishments are severe".
But people like Omar, an African who makes a living in Makkah by washing cars, are not deterred because they have no other option.
"Feeding my children and keeping them away from starvation is my aim," he said in front of his home in the Makkah slum.
IslamOnline.net & News Agencies
Up to 2.5 million Muslims performed hajj this year. (Reuters)
MAKKAH — As tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims are readying themselves to return home after performing hajj, hundreds of illegal immigrants who entered the kingdom on hajj visas are staying behind, fading undetected into Saudi life.
"They come here and misuse our hospitality," Abdulaziz, a Saudi, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Saturday, December 22.
After each year's hajj, hundreds of people skip their return flights, in search of a better life in the oil-rich Gulf country.
They enter Saudi Arabia on a visa to perform hajj or `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).
In most cases, the supposed pilgrims skip hajj altogether, never even showing up at the lodgings booked for them.
"It is even like lying to God," said Abdulaziz. "At the end of the day, it's our fault for providing them with a job."
"They engage in odd jobs like gardening, car washing, even shepherding out in the desert," added Fahad, another Saudi.
He said they get paid as little as 300 to 500 riyals (80 to 135 dollars) a month.
There is no official figures on the number of overstayers — known by Saudis as mutekhalifeen (lawbreakers) — each year.
But Saudi newspapers frequently run stories about the arrest of dozens of people, with some implicated in drug-running and other crimes.
According to an official report issued by the General Statistics Department, 2,454,325 pilgrims performed hajj this year.
This number includes 1,707,814 pilgrims who came from 181 countries and 746,511 from within the Kingdom.
A large number of overstaying Umra pilgrims also joined the hajj to further boost the final count.
Pilgrims held Friday, December 21, a mass farewell visit to the Ka`bah, ending hajj.
Most of the pilgrims earlier performed their third stoning of walls representing the devil and left the Mina area for Makkah . Those unable to leave by sunset were staying a third night in the area.
Forgotten Slum
In Makkah, what appeared to be a forgotten slum has emerged recently to accommodate hajj illegal immigrants.
These twilight zones are in narrow, litter-covered streets, with old flats and poorly stocked shops.
The dreams of a better life often come to an abrupt end when police raid on their dwellings.
Once detained, illegal immigrants are locked up until the paperwork is done for them to be sent home.
Saudi authorities have also tightened punishment on those employing illegal immigrants.
They can be fined tens of thousands of riyals, jailed or both.
"We will implement a new system that will intensify the punishment," Saudi interior minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz has said.
He warned Saudis not to employ or provide shelter or transportation for the illegal immigrants, adding that "the punishments are severe".
But people like Omar, an African who makes a living in Makkah by washing cars, are not deterred because they have no other option.
"Feeding my children and keeping them away from starvation is my aim," he said in front of his home in the Makkah slum.
