KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Police in Mecca have arrested 18 citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan on charges of forging Hajj-related documents.
The Saudi newspaper Al Bilad reported that the individuals were arrested on Friday (May 8) for allegedly forging “residency permits, Hajj wristbands, and Nusuk cards or special electronic identification cards for pilgrims.”
According to the report, legal procedures have been initiated against the suspects, and their cases have been referred to the Public Prosecution in Mecca.
In a separate incident reported yesterday by the Saudi Gazette, Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Security Forces arrested five Afghan nationals after they were found attempting to enter Mecca on foot through a desert route to bypass official Hajj permit regulations.
Saudi authorities said legal action is underway against the five men as part of a broader campaign to enforce strict pilgrimage regulations during this year’s Hajj season.
Saudi security officials have renewed warnings against unauthorized entry into Mecca and urged pilgrims and residents to comply with Hajj regulations. Authorities have also called on the public to report violations.
Saudi authorities have recently intensified security measures and inspections around Mecca as part of broader efforts to enforce Hajj regulations, prevent unauthorized entry, and ensure the safety and organization of the annual pilgrimage, which draws millions of Muslims from around the world each year.
The arrests were announced as chartered and regular flights continue to ferry Afghan pilgrims from Afghanistan to Medina and Jeddah airports for this year’s Hajj. According to Taliban authorities, approximately 30,000 Afghan pilgrims are expected to participate, about the same number as last year.
The Taliban announced last year that each Afghan pilgrim typically spends about $3,850 on travel, accommodation, visas, and other related expenses, bringing total spending by Afghan pilgrims to an estimated $115 million each year.
For many Afghans, performing Hajj is viewed as a lifelong religious aspiration and a major family commitment, even as the country struggles with one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The United Nations estimates that nearly 22 million people — approximately 45% of Afghanistan’s population — require humanitarian assistance due to ongoing economic decline, sharp reductions in foreign aid, widespread unemployment, and international isolation following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
