Uzbekistan Issues Warning Over Illegal Hajj Pilgrimage

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Committee for Religious Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan has reminded citizens of the regulations regarding the organization of the Hajj and the strict penalties for attempting to perform the pilgrimage by bypassing official channels.

According to established procedures, the organization of the Hajj in Uzbekistan is carried out exclusively through the Muslim Board, based on an annual agreement with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia. Any activities by other structures in this field are considered illegal.

The agency emphasized that violating these rules in Saudi Arabia carries serious consequences. Pilgrims arriving in the country illegally face a fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals (approximately US$2,600), imprisonment for up to six months, and deportation followed by a 10-year ban on re-entry.

Even stricter measures are in place for the organizers of illegal trips: individuals and legal entities can be fined up to 50,000 Saudi riyals (over US$13,300).

The Committee urged citizens to trust only official institutions and to avoid fraudulent schemes when organizing their Hajj pilgrimage.