Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — Saudi Arabia’s Attorney General Sheikh Saud Al-Muajab emphasized on Wednesday that Hajj is a religious duty of Muslims and it is forbidden to raise sectarian and political slogans during Hajj.

“Such acts would warrant strict criminal accountability,” he warned.

Al-Muajab made the remarks after inaugurating the activities of the Hajj Prosecution Office in Makkah. Earlier this week, the Public Prosecution has created 20 new specialized prosecution wings at the Holy Sites during this year’s Hajj season. This is in addition to the existing seven wings. With this, the number of prosecution wings operating at the Holy Sites during the Hajj season rose to 27. The wings, namely Prosecution for Hajj Works, will operate around the clock.

Sheikh Al-Muajab underlined the need for maintaining the sanctity of the Holy Sites, where shedding of blood is forbidden. The Public Prosecutor also stressed the inviolability of felony against Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in all its forms, or the exploitation of religious rites or the holy places. “The Public Prosecution is keen on ensuring the safety and protection of Hajj pilgrims from any crimes and injustice, and hence it would impose the most severe penalties against those committing such crimes,” he said.

Sheikh Al-Moajab noted the utmost keenness and special care that Saudi Arabia attaches to the Holy Sites as well as to the Hajj and Umrah pilgrims ever since the unification of Saudi Arabia by its founder King Abdul Aziz until to date. He highlighted the support and follow-up of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for the Hajj and the pilgrims. He also lauded the Kingdom’s just systems that safeguard the rights of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and serve their interests.

The Public Prosecution stated that the new prosecution wings are specialized in all the judicial prosecution procedures, which include: investigations; Public Prosecution; appeal of judgments; oversight and inspection of prisons and places of detention; and supervision of the execution of criminal verdicts. The Public Prosecution stated that the 20 new prosecution wings are employed with staffers who possess distinguished judicial competence