Saudi police catch man sexually harassing women performing Hajj ritual in Mina

Saudi Arabian police have arrested a man who was sexually harassing women as they were performing Hajj rituals in Mina’s Jamarat, media reports say.

‘Saudi Gazette’ newspaper said on Sunday the Asian-origin harasser “was nabbed, investigated and tried in a matter of 180 minutes only”.

Quoting a report run on Saturday by local daily Al-Madina, it said the man was touching women while they were throwing stones at the pillars symbolising Satan.

The harasser, who was detained by the undercover police, was not named, the reports said.

“The secret police took him to the station where he was interrogated by the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution (BIP) and sentenced by a judge at the site,” Saudi Gazette said.

Muslim pilgrims walk on roads as they head to cast stones at pillars symbolising Satan during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mina on the first day of the Eid-ul-Azha, near the holy city of Makkah, on Sep 24, 2015. Reuters

The police, according to Al-Madina newspaper, saw the man get close several times to women pilgrims in the crowded areas at the Jamarat.

Saudi Gazette said the harasser, who admitted to his crimes, was sentenced to jail and lashes.

But local daily Al-Madina did not specify the sentence.