Saudi Arabia Bans Entry Of Female Pilgrims With No Male Guardians For Hajj

oge okonkwo

September 2, 2014 4:13 PM

The airline will be fined and bear the expenses for any violating passenger’s stay at the airport’s transit area until they are returned home

Airllines transporting pilgrims have been warned by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi Arabia against carrying females under the age of 45 without a legal guardian.

GACA said violating airlines will be fined SR50,000 (N 2,167,595), and erring female pilgrims will be denied entry and sent back on the same flight.

The airline will be fined and bear the expenses for any violating passenger’s stay at the airport’s transit area until they are returned home.

Sources say these warning instructions are issued annually by GACA to organize the operation of transporting pilgrims.

GACA aims through these instructions to provide care for the pilgrims and ensure their safety, starting from their arrival to the Holy Sites until they are to depart to their homes.

Saudi Gazette interviewed an executive manager at a Hajj company in Jeddah who said the problem is created by Hajj agencies from outside the country.

He said they break the rules issued by the Hajj Ministry.

He added,

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