The Saudi authorities have been actively promoting their global image by exploiting the sacred symbolism of the Two Holy Mosques, even as their severe violations against pilgrims and worshippers continue to escalate.
The Hajj and Umrah Violations Monitor has highlighted multiple human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia, including:
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- Arbitrary bans on performing Hajj and Umrah,
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- Unlawful arrests and detentions,
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- Targeted harassment,
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- Negligence and mistreatment of detainees,
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- Enforced disappearances,
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- The imprisonment of minors.
Systematic Persecution of Pilgrims
According to the monitor, Saudi authorities have turned the arrest of individuals deemed to be in opposition to the regime into a common practice—even inside the sanctified spaces of Makkah and Madinah. This alarming trend calls for urgent action to halt this assault on the sanctity of the sacred sites.
The report states that arresting a pilgrim or worshipper after issuing them a visa constitutes a deceptive act of entrapment and violates fundamental legal and human rights norms.
“Who would have thought that the Two Holy Mosques—once a sanctuary open to all Muslims—would become restricted not only for non-believers but even for scholars, preachers, and intellectuals?”
Targeting Scholars, Thinkers, and Activists
The monitor also noted that numerous scholars, intellectuals, and influential figures from around the world have been unjustly barred from performing Hajj and Umrah. This is part of Saudi Arabia’s blatant attempt to weaponize the Islamic sacred sites for political suppression and to silence dissenting voices.
The report stresses the need to restore the sanctity of these holy sites so they can once again serve as spiritual sanctuaries where Muslims of all backgrounds and ideologies can unite in worship.
Saudi Arabia’s Double Standards in Religious Tourism
While Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to tourists and foreign investors, offering them significant incentives and improved services, pilgrims and worshippers continue to suffer from severe restrictions and worsening conditions.
Despite significant investments in luxury tourism, Muslim pilgrims still face arbitrary bans, and tragic Hajj disasters continue to recur annually, with no genuine reforms to address these issues.
The Militarization of Hajj and Umrah
Saudi Arabia’s excessive militarization of Hajj and Umrah seasons has drastically worsened basic services for pilgrims, leading to avoidable deaths and suffering. The overwhelming security presence has not ensured safety; instead, it has made pilgrimage a perilous journey fraught with hardships and risks to human life.
The monitor further revealed that Saudi Arabia has politicized the sacred rituals, using:
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- Arbitrary detentions of pilgrims and worshippers,
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- Unjustified bans preventing certain Muslims from performing their religious duties,
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- Hajj and Umrah as leverage for political blackmail.
A Call to Restore the Sanctity of Islamic Pilgrimage
Under Saudi mismanagement, pilgrimage to the holiest sites in Islam has become an ordeal instead of a spiritual journey. While Riyadh aggressively promotes a rebranded image of modernity and tourism, Muslim worshippers face growing restrictions, mistreatment, and systemic human rights violations.
There is an urgent need for the global Muslim community to reclaim its right to unhindered access to the Two Holy Mosques and to demand an end to the Saudi regime’s exploitation of Islamic sanctities for political gain.
The opinions mentioned in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Sunna Files Website, but rather express the opinion of its writer exclusively.
