Saudi Arabia has banned political and sectarian slogans during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, authorities said on Sunday, as regional tensions linked to the war involving Iran raise security concerns ahead of the annual gathering of nearly two million Muslims in Mecca.
“It is forbidden to raise political or sectarian flags or chant slogans of any kind in Mecca, Medina, inside the holy sites, the Grand Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque, their courtyards, and the roads leading to them,” the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a warning carried by local media.
Authorities added that no demonstrations or gatherings that could disrupt public order would be allowed in areas where the May 25-30 rituals are held, stressing that the Hajj is “exclusively dedicated to worship and devotion.”
Violators could face severe penalties, including expulsion from holy sites, legal proceedings or deportation, depending on the seriousness of the offense, according to official Saudi media.
The measures come amid heightened tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslim communities. Shia Islam is the dominant branch in Iran and is also followed by groups aligned with Tehran, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Shiite militias in Iraq.
Historically, political, and sectarian slogans tied to Middle East geopolitics have triggered serious security incidents during the pilgrimage.
In 1987, Iranian pilgrims organized a demonstration under the slogan “Keep away from the infidels,” a practice encouraged by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Protesters chanted slogans against the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia’s ruling Al Saud family.
The demonstration escalated into violent clashes with Saudi security forces, leaving more than 400 people dead, most of them Iranians, and thousands injured.
The incident led to a years-long rupture in diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran and the suspension of Iranian participation in the Hajj for three years.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, countries such as Iraq have issued strict travel advisories urging pilgrims not to display symbols or images associated with Sunni or Shiite political and religious leaders that could be interpreted by Saudi authorities as sectarian provocation.
The Hajj pilgrimage is a religious obligation that every Muslim who is physically and financially able is expected to perform at least once in their lifetime.
