Qataris decry politicising of Hajj by Saudi authorities

DOHA: Expressing dismay over various restrictions and absence of any system by the Saudi government that barred Qataris from performing Haj for the second consecutive year, Qatari citizens have asked the Saudi authorities to shun politicising sacred rituals for its political interests.

Saudi Arabia’s imposition of restrictions on people living in Qatar to perform the annual Islamic pilgrimage has caused huge disappointment among Qatari community.

Qatari citizens have held Saudi Arabia responsible for politicising the annual pilgrimage to Makkah by refusing to guarantee Qataris’ safety.

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has said the other day in a statement that they were in contact recently with the Ministry of Haj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and discussed the challenges facing the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar.

The ministry added that it called on the designated authorities in the Saudi Arabia to eliminate all the obstacles, adding that this was yet to happen.

Talking to The Peninsula, a Qatari national, Ali Al Athba said: “We have learnt a lesson by last year’s experience. It is the second year of the unjust Saudi-led blockade, we have been blocked to perform the main pillar of Islam (Haj). Qataris are not safe to be in Saudi Arabia, we don’t have Qatar’s Embassy in KSA which makes us more unsafe.”

He said that last year Qataris were sent back to Doha from the airport which caused a lot of disappointment among the community. “Not only the locals, even the expatriates are facing problems to perform Haj and Umrah.”

“This year we should concentrate on breaking this unjust blockade imposed on us and bring the safety and freedom back to people residing in Qatar,” Al Athba added.

Qatar’s Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs has also stressed that in fact all the challenges such as the close border crossing, Qatari citizens and residents seeking Haj who cannot travel by plane remain.

The Ministry added that there were no planes transferring people going to Haj from Doha to Jeddah, as is the case in all neighbouring countries. It also noted that there was no clear mechanism for gaining a Haj visa for residents of the State of Qatar.

Another Qatari citizen, Jassim Al Mansoori, said: “For the second consecutive year Qataris are unable to perform Haj which makes us sad. The government which is involved in controlling people to perform Haj and Umrah has destroyed the values of humanity we have in our religion. No religion teaches people to stop others from practising their religion. Being Muslims, we should help one another in such situations. I do not feel bad for myself but for all my brothers who are stopped to enter the holy land,” he observed.

He added: “We all pray to Allah that everything gets resolved as soon as possible and we all brothers stand together without any disputes. We all should be given the chance of performing Haj and Umrah freely without any restrictions.”

Some Qataris have also requested the Saudi government to follow what Islam teaches without making distinction for Qatar and other countries on that subject. Politicising Haj and Umrah will not help them stop Muslims entering the holy land.

Hamad bin Ameer, another Qatari said: “Saudi Arabia has violated all the norms, laws, values and human rights in addition to its unjust blockade on the State of Qatar.

“Saudi is politicising Haj and trying to get its political gains through pressurising the Qatari government and the people of Qatar. Being Muslims, we demand Saudi Arabia to facilitate Haj procedures for us and our Yemeni and Syrian brothers. The teachings of Islam do not allow anyone to stop them from performing Haj.”

Haj is one of the main pillars of Islam and Muslims living in Qatar irrespective of their nationality are struggling to perform Haj and Umrah since last year. Mansoor Al Yami said: “Makkah should not be treated as an asset of Saudi Arabia, it should be owned by all Muslims around the world. The issues between governments should not deter people from perform Haj and Umrah. The entire Qatari community is disappointed and discuss how to resolve this problem which we are facing now as it never happened in the history.”

Al Yami added: “Each and every person traveling from Qatar to Makkah should feel safe enough to visit KSA and perform Haj and Umrah without any hesitation and restrictions.”