Makkah: Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday that it would not stop members of the Muslim Brotherhood — listed among terrorist organizations in the Kingdom — from coming to perform Haj and Umrah.
"We have got special instructions from higher authorities on treatment of such people coming for pilgrimage," said Lt. Col. Ahmed Al-Laheedan, director general of the Passport Department.
"Those who are banned from entering the Kingdom may be allowed to come for Haj and Umrah, if there are no specific instructions to prevent some individuals from entering the country," he pointed out.
In such cases, the names of those individuals would be uploaded onto the computer system to prevent them from entering the Kingdom or arrest them on arrival. "We act according to the instructions we receive."
Meanwhile, Adnan Mazroue, president of Taibah University, backed the Interior Ministry's decision to take punitive action against those militants who go abroad to take part in civil wars and those who support terrorist organizations.
He commended the government's efforts to promote moderation.
"The measures taken by the government are aimed at reinforcing security and stability in the country", he said.
News
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side