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THE operator of an unlicensed Haj travel group, who was fined BD10,000 for taking pilgrims to Mecca without a permit, has lost his final appeal at Bahrain’s top court.
The Cassation Court heard that in the 2023 Haj season (1444 Hijri), the Bahraini appellant charged 80 pilgrims BD500 each to take them to perform their religious duties.
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Mr Shaji, left, and Mr Ahmed
Two pilgrims died while performing Haj with the rogue operator; Abdulaziz Murad Shaji and Sayed Abbas Sayed Ahmed died suddenly on June 30 and July 1, respectively, due to cardiac events.
At the time of the incident, the Bahrain Haj Mission noted that the deceased citizens were not registered with any licensed campaigns.
Last May, the Lower Criminal Court found the appellant guilty of illegally transporting pilgrims to the holy site without registering with the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry.
He was fined BD10,000, and went on to lose both appeals at the High Criminal Appeals Court and the Cassation Court.
This year, the pilgrimage season is expected to run from June 4 to June 9, with a total of 56 campaigns accommodating 4,625 pilgrims.
The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry has warned individuals against joining any unlicensed tour operators, or going on the pilgrimage alone without a permit to avoid legal consequences for violating regulations and procedures.
The ministry urged people to go through the list of licensed Bahraini Haj tour operators and to follow regulations and guidelines set by both the High Committee for Haj and Umrah Affairs and the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry.
Saudi authorities have also warned that those who defy regulations in place will end up facing severe and unwavering penalties, including a fine of about BD1,000 (10,000 Saudi riyals) which will be imposed on citizens, residents and visitors caught in Mecca and other holy sites without a Haj permit.
The fine will be doubled for repeat offenders and resident violators face deportation and a ban from entering Saudi Arabia.
Penalties for transporting pilgrims illegally include jail for up to six months, a fine of up to 50,000 Saudi riyals, confiscation of the transport vehicle by the judiciary and deportation and ban from re-entering Saudi Arabia for expatriate and visitor violators.
Haj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Haj is a mandatory religious duty for capable Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adults who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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