馃嚬馃嚦TunisiaNorth Africa
Saudi Arabia announces strict penalties for Hajj 2026 violators
via Business News5 min read
Saudi authorities have introduced reinforced sanctions for Hajj 2026 to ensure compliance with access rules for holy sites. The Ministry of Interior announced these measures on April 14, 2026, targeting individuals without official pilgrimage permits or those attempting to access Mecca and sacred sites with visit visas between April 18 and May 31. Penalties include fines up to 20,000 Saudi riyals for lacking a permit. More severe financial sanctions, potentially reaching 100,000 riyals, will be imposed on those who facilitate unauthorized Hajj attempts, including individuals who requested visit visas for such purposes, or those involved in transporting, accommodating, or assisting unauthorized pilgrims. Fines will be cumulative based on the number of individuals involved. Additionally, undocumented pilgrims, whether residents or irregular visitors, will face deportation and a ten-year ban from entering Saudi Arabia. The Hajj 2026 season is scheduled to run from May 18 to May 30.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Three years after the signing of the migration memorandum between Tunisia and the European Union, Amnesty International has stated that this cooperation model prioritized strengthening migration control over protecting the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. In a statement published on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the organization affirmed that policies implemented since the agreement's signing have been marked by numerous human rights violations. Amnesty International documented cases of arbitrary detentions, collective expulsions, violence, and racist acts related to the migration policies applied in Tunisia. Despite accumulating evidence of these violations, the European Union continued to provide financial and technical support to Tunisian authorities to reinforce migration control mechanisms. The NGO believes that reducing migrant arrivals in Europe cannot be considered a success indicator if it comes at the cost of the lives and dignity of those affected. Amnesty International also emphasized that intercepting migrants at sea should not be equated with a rescue operation when those intercepted are returned to places where they risk exposure to violence, torture, or other severe human rights violations. The organization stated that survivor testimonies show that the consequences of these policies cannot be reduced to mere migration statistics, asserting that each intercepted or expelled person is a human being whose rights must be fully respected. Amnesty
Tunisia's foreign currency receipts from Tunisians residing abroad TRE and tourism continued to grow, reaching over 8.4 billion dinars by July 10, 2026. This represents an increase of nearly 390 million dinars compared to the same period in 2025, according to monetary and financial indicators published by the Central Bank of Tunisia on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Cumulative cash work income, primarily from TRE, amounted to 4.74 billion dinars, up from 4.51 billion dinars a year earlier, marking a 5.10% annual increase. Tourism revenues also rose, reaching 3.68 billion dinars by July 10, 2026, compared to 3.52 billion dinars on the same date in 2025, an increase of 4.49%. Combined, these two sources generated 8.43 billion dinars in foreign currency by July 10, 2026, up from 8.04 billion dinars a year prior, a 4.83% increase. These sectors remain crucial for Tunisia's foreign currency supply and play an essential role in financing the country's external balances, especially given the high trade deficit and the impact of energy costs on external accounts. In 2025, total receipts from TRE and tourism were 16.86 billion dinars, compared to 15.86 billion dinars in 2024, an increase of 996.2 million dinars or 6.28%.
The European Left Party has strongly condemned death threats targeting Hamma Hammami, Secretary General of the Tunisian Workers' Party, and other opposition figures. These threats followed the broadcast of a video containing violent remarks and calls for hatred. In a statement issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the European organization expressed full solidarity with Hamma Hammami, his family, and the Workers' Party, emphasizing that political differences do not justify intimidation or threats against political actors expressing critical views. The European Left Party urged Tunisian authorities to immediately ensure the safety of those targeted, conduct a thorough investigation into the threats' origin, and prosecute those responsible, warning that impunity fuels political violence and erodes democratic freedoms. The organization also reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of expression, political pluralism, and the right of opposition forces to operate without persecution. This reaction comes amid growing concern over the proliferation of hate speech in Tunisia's public and digital spheres. The Tunisian League for Human Rights had previously raised an alarm on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, regarding the same video, denouncing an escalation of hate speech and incitement to violence on social media. The League called for an urgent and independent criminal investigation to identify those responsible and protect the targeted individuals, including Mohamed Abbou, Ezzedine Hazgui, Samir