Jazan, November 21: Despite the tensions at the border in Jazan province, more than 17,000 pilgrims have entered the Kingdom at the Tuwal border crossing as of Friday evening.
These pilgrims come from different countries apart from Yemen, including Indonesia, Egypt and Russia.
Muhammad Ghulam, an Indonesian pilgrim, expressed his satisfaction at his opportunity to enter the Kingdom across the border and the warm welcome he received from Saudi officials.
“The officials simplified the entry procedures and supplied us with bottles of drinking water and fruit juice. They also gave us ihram (the two pieces of cloth worn by male pilgrims) and umbrellas in addition to booklets on Haj rites printed in Bahasa,” Ghulam told Arab News.
Egyptian pilgrim Ramadan Mutawalli said he was satisfied with the services at the crossing point. A special team from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance supplied booklets containing instructions on Haj rites.
“About 15,000 copies of booklets about the correct rites, special supplications and the rites to be performed at miqat, entry points for a pilgrim, CDs and tapes of lectures by eminent religious scholars were given to pilgrims,” an official of the Islamic Affairs Department said.
——Agencies