Saudi Arabia warns against political slogans during Hajj

RIYADH: The Saudi government has reiterated that the annual Hajj pilgrimage was a religious event, not a platform for political expression.

In a statement, Saudi Hajj Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said: “Hajj is for worship, not for any political slogans.”

He emphasised that the Kingdom’s leadership was committed to ensuring the pilgrimage “embodies the highest levels of devotion, tranquillity, and spirituality.”

The announcement comes as Muslims around the world have been vocal in their condemnation of Israel’s recent devastating military campaign in Gaza. However, Saudi Arabia, which has not formally recognised Israel since its creation in 1948, has cautioned against using the Hajj as a stage for political protests.

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 “There has been a high level of compliance with these rules in previous years,” Al-Rabiah noted, suggesting that the Saudi government will enforce restrictions on any attempts to raise political banners or chant slogans during the pilgrimage.

Earlier in November 2023, Saudi Arabia Police detained two persons, Algerian and Turkish nationals, after they reportedly publicly prayed for Gaza, Palestine, during their pilgrimage.

This year in May, the Kingdom’s government reportedly increased arrests of citizens for criticising Israel on social media in recent months due to its ongoing military onslaught against the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, Bloomberg reported citing officials and rights activists.