RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is reportedly detaining pilgrims who pray for Palestine and declare solidarity with Gaza in Mecca and Medina.
British actor Abdurahman, who was on pilgrimage to Mecca with his family, was detained by soldiers for wearing the traditional Palestinian dress, the kaffia.
‘I was stopped by four soldiers for wearing a white kaffia on my head and a tasbeeh (a necklace held in the hand to count when reciting mantras) in Palestinian colors.
They took me to a place where people suspected of being involved in crimes were kept. After being detained, some other soldiers asked me what country I was from, why I came here, where I came from and how long I was here,’ Abdurrahman said.
He said the soldiers also asked him to show him again how he wore the kaffia. He said that his kafiya was their topic and while talking to each other in Arabic, the Palestinian was saying kafiya.
Abdurrahman says that he bought the kaffia for the release and the soldiers told him that it is not good for Israel and Palestine and that he should not wear it.
After sharing his experience on Instagram, he said he was receiving hate messages from Saudi Arabian citizens. Instagram comments that flags and symbols should not be displayed in places of worship.
But Abdurrahman said his intention was not to portray Makkah in a bad light, but to show that Palestinians have no way to raise their voices.
On November 10, the head of religious affairs of the Saudi Arabia Grand Mosque, Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, said not to interfere in the affairs of Gaza. He asked what they could do but pray for their brothers in Palestine.
Content Highlight: Saudi Arabia detains worshippers praying for Gaza in holy sites
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2023-11-17 12:14:00