Saudi King Orders Hosting 1,000 Pilgrims of Families of Martyrs, Prisoners, and Wounded Palestinians

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. SPA
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. SPA
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Saudi King Orders Hosting 1,000 Pilgrims of Families of Martyrs, Prisoners, and Wounded Palestinians

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. SPA
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. SPA

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has given instructions that 1,000 pilgrims, including families of martyrs, prisoners and wounded Palestinians, be allowed to perform Hajj as part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Hajj Guests Program, supervised and implemented annually by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, General Supervisor of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Hajj Guests Program, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh thanked the King and the Crown Prince.

He said the “generous gesture” was a sign of the King’s strong relations with the Palestinian people, said Al Al-Sheikh.

The minister added that this initiative will have a great impact on the Palestinians and help ease their pain.

The services provided by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to the guests as part of the program touch on all Hajj rituals, including visits to the Prophet’s Mosque and historical places, cultural and scientific meetings, and coordination of meetings with the imams of the Two Holy Mosques; all this is done by making use of modern technology and artificial intelligence, as per the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, to facilitate hosting the pilgrims.

Al Al-Sheikh also talked about the preparation of plans, studies and field equipment to ensure the success of the program, done in cooperation with various relevant government sectors to serve the guests from their arrival until their departure.



Albudaiwi Stresses GCC Commitment to Combating All Forms of Human Trafficking

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
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Albudaiwi Stresses GCC Commitment to Combating All Forms of Human Trafficking

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassim Albudaiwi stressed that the Governmental Forum to Combat Human Trafficking in the Middle East has received regional and international acclaim for the efforts of GCC countries.

He noted that since its inception, the forum has contributed to shaping a unified GCC vision to address human trafficking, tailored to the region’s unique economic and geographic characteristics, as well as the evolving challenges of this crime, particularly with the use of modern technologies and transnational organized crime networks, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

Albudaiwi made his remarks during his speech at the opening of the sixth Governmental Forum to Combat Human Trafficking in the Middle East for 2025, held in Kuwait. The forum was attended by Minister of Justice of Kuwait Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait, along with several ministers and senior representatives from member states, as well as delegates from the GCC Secretariat, the Arab League, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the US Department of State.

Albudaiwi highlighted the adoption of national laws that criminalize human trafficking and establish clear mechanisms for victim protection and offender prosecution. These efforts include the formation of national committees and agencies, establishment of shelters, hotlines, and national referral systems for potential victims, as well as specialized training for security and judicial personnel.

He also cited regulatory reforms in labor markets through updated labor legislation and expanded regional and international cooperation with organizations such as UNODC, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Labor Organization to implement joint preventive and awareness programs.

Albudaiwi concluded and called for united efforts among countries to address shared challenges, enhance coordination, and sustain collective action, mainly in combating transnational crimes and protecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and migrants.

He reaffirmed the GCC's steadfast and ongoing commitment to combating human trafficking in all its forms, advancing legislative and regulatory frameworks, and enhancing regional and international cooperation to ensure victim protection, offender accountability, and the promotion of justice and human rights.