Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry has stated that there is no place for politics during the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.
Hajj and Umrah Minister Mohammed Saleh Banten made the statement during the annual press conference at the Hilton Makkah Convention Hotel on Wednesday.
“Saudi Arabia has no condition to impose on any Muslim coming only to perform their Hajj rituals in peace,” he said.
The statement is believed to be a warning to Iranian pilgrims who have held anti-Saudi demonstrations in Makkah in the past. It could also be a warning to Qatari pilgrims who might be upset at Riyadh’s economic blockade of the country.
The Saudi minister was speaking during the 43rd Hajj Symposium which was attended by senior Muslim scholars from different parts of the Muslim world.
The Hajj and Umrah minister said: “This event is part of the role the Kingdom has been playing in spreading Islam’s moderate teachings. The symposium highlights the values and the true message of Hajj. It also stresses the importance of Hajj in spreading intimacy among Muslims.
“The Kingdom understands quite well what message it has in the service of the two holy mosques, in particular, and whole Islamic Umma, in general. It is very keen to call to Islam and unite the Umma through Hajj.”
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