Bahrainis arrested for not having Haj permits, not for terror

Manama, Sep. 18 (BNA): As part of the agreement on security and exchange of information between GCC countries, the Interior Ministry has followed up with its Saudi counterpart on the report in a Saudi newspaper about the arrest of 13 Bahrainis during Haj. Communication revealed that they were detained not on terror charges, as stated in the newspaper report, but for not having Haj permits. They were held at a checkpoint in Makkah and legal action was taken against them. Three of the detainees, two women and one man, have been released while the case is being followed up with the Saudi security authorities.