The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the release of 11 Iraqi nationals imprisoned in Lebanon after falling victim to tourism company scams.
In a statement released today, Tuesday, the ministry stated that 11 Iraqi citizens, including elderly men and women, were released after being detained by Lebanese security authorities for attempting to travel from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri Airport to Saudi Arabia on tourist visas not designated for Hajj.
The statement indicated that “the Iraqi Embassy in Lebanon has communicated with the relevant security and judicial agencies and succeeded in releasing all detainees. Additionally, the embassy has been in constant communication over the past two days with the families of the detainees, visiting them continuously to assess their needs. The embassy transferred the detainees to a hotel after their release and continues to monitor their conditions.”
The statement emphasized that “the Iraqi Embassy in Saudi Arabia is overseeing the completion of other procedures until the case is permanently closed and the individuals are returned to Iraq.”
Earlier, Saudi authorities announced that the fine for those caught in Mecca and the holy sites during the Hajj season without prior authorization would be 10,000 Saudi riyals (approximately $2,660). Additionally, residents caught in violation will be deported to their countries and barred from reentering the Kingdom according to the specified periods as per the regulations.
