A shocking video has circulated featuring the Saudi preacher Sheikh Suleiman Al-Rahili, in which he discouraged participating in demonstrations to support Gaza, citing concerns about the mixing of men and women. However, he turned a blind eye to the celebrations of the “Riyadh Season” in his own country, the land of the Two Holy Mosques.
In the video, Suleiman Al-Rahili said, “I advise myself and my brothers to increase our supplications for our brothers in Palestine. There is no good or benefit in demonstrations within Muslim countries where there is a mixture of unrelated elements.”
He added, “These demonstrations include what Allah forbade, such as the mingling of men and women, as well as inappropriate language and slander among Muslims, as well as defamation of Muslim leaders.”
Suleiman Al-Rahili’s controversial call has sparked widespread anger on social media platforms and has been linked to his country’s stance, which is moving towards normalization with Israel. It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia, his home country, is one of the very few countries, similar to the UAE, where pro-Palestinian demonstrations in response to the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza have been absent.
Al-Rahili’s call has generated immense criticism on social media, with many connecting it to the Saudi government’s policies, which appear to be leaning towards normalization with Israel. In this context, followers of the Wahhabi movement have often taken harsh stances against Muslims in general, and Arab and Islamic countries in particular. They are notorious for issuing fatwas to encourage fighting within Arab and Islamic states and for plotting bombings and acts of violence in countries such as Syria, Libya, and Iraq.
Prominent Saudi opposition figure Omar bin Abdulaziz commented, “Saudi Sheikh Suleiman Al-Rahili, the imam of the Quba Mosque, claims that demonstrations are forbidden to support Gaza due to the mixing of genders and the slander against the protesters.”
Yahya Ghunaim, an activist, remarked, “Suleiman Al-Rahili, the Wahhabi Salafist, forbids demonstrations in support of Gaza due to concerns about gender mixing, but he remains silent about the mixing of genders, harassment, nudity, and drug use that occur at events such as the Riyadh Season and others held in the land of the two holy mosques.”
Turki Al-Shalhoub, another activist, tweeted, “This sheikh named Suleiman Al-Rahili forbids demonstrations in support of Palestine due to concerns about gender mixing that may occur at these events. However, he remains silent about gender mixing, harassment, nudity, and drug use at events like the Riyadh Season and others held in the land of the two holy mosques.”
Please note that these comments express criticism and condemnation of Suleiman Al-Rahili’s stance and do not represent the views of the translation or its source.
