Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said pilgrims from Iran may not perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year. The ministry said in a statement on Friday that the decision followed the refusal of the Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit’s mission to sign minutes of concluding arrangements of Iranian pilgrims.
The statement also said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the political head of the Kingdom, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,had directed the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to respond to the desire of the Chairman of Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit and the accompanying delegation to come to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for signing the minutes of concluding arrangements of Iranian pilgrims’ arrival to perform Hajj rituals for the Hajj season 1437H.
“The ministry formally received the delegation and provided all facilitations to them, including enabling them to perform Umrah.
“After that, continuous meetings were held on 18-19/08/1437H for long hours. The two sides dealt with all topics that have been discussed in previous meetings.
“The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah suggested a number of solutions for all points requested by the Iranian Organization of Hajj and Visit,” the statement said.
It also identified the areas in which the Iranians raised issues to include the issuing of visas electronically from inside Iran in accordance with mechanism agreed by the Saudi Foreign Ministry as well as the transporting of pilgrims equally between the Saudi national carrier and Iranian national carrier.
Other areas are approving the Iranian request by letting it to be diplomatically represented through the Swiss embassy in order to take care of Iranian pilgrims’ interests.
The statement said the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah immediately coordinated with the competent authorities to implement the requests by the Iranians.
However, it said, at dawn on Friday, “the Iranian mission expressed its desire to leave to home without signing the minutes of arrangements of the Iranian pilgrims’ affairs”.
“Accordingly, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is confirming that the mission of the Iranian Hajj and Visit Organization which refused to sign the minutes on arrangements for Iranian pilgrims for the Year 1437, will be responsible in front of Allah Almighty and its people for inability of the Iranian citizens to perform Hajj for this year.
“The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has also clarified that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has stressed its categorical rejection to politicize Hajj rituals.
“Upon directives of the Kingdom’s wise leadership, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is always ready to cooperate for serving the pilgrims and facilitating their arrival procedures,” the statement said.
All Credits: PREMIUMTIMES
0 comments:
Post a Comment