Damascus: Hajj is not the property of the Saudis to stop Syrians to perform it.
The Syrian Minister of Endowments strongly criticized the politicization of Hajj and Umrah, noting that Saudi Arabia has been blocking the sending of Syrian pilgrims for 11 years.
“Saudi Arabia has so far prevented the sending of Syrian pilgrims to perform the Hajj, and at the same time refuses to sign an agreement with the government of Damascus,” said Syrian Minister of Endowments Abdul Sattar al-Sayed.
He told Syria’s Al-Watan newspaper that despite their claims to fight terrorism and extremist groups, Saudi Arabia is coordinating the Hajj with the Brotherhood, while claiming to be fighting the Muslim Brotherhood outside Saudi Arabia. (The Syrian government considers the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.)
Abdul Sattar Al-Sayed added: “They have politicized Hajj for 11 years now.” “Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and is not part of the assets of Saudi Arabia or anyone else.”
Referring to Syria’s quota for Hajj, which is one thousandth of the country’s population, he said that on this account, more than 20,000 Syrians should now be allowed to send for Hajj.
On the other hand, “Mohammad Khair Al-Akam”, a member of the Syrian parliament, told Al-Watan newspaper that the Saudis do not seem to allow the Syrians to perform Hajj this year either, and that there has been no substantial change in Riyadh’s policy towards Syria. The war was with their government, they could not go to Hajj.
“Saudi Arabia has reduced the number of pilgrims from other countries in the past two years under the pretext of the corona, while Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and it is obligatory on every Muslim to perform this duty,” he added.
Al-Akam also said that many countries want to non-politicize the presence of Muslims in this duty and want to take over the management of holy places from the Islamic countries instead of the Saudi government so that the Saudis can not use this Islamic obligation to their advantage. , Because it is the right of every Muslim to visit these holy areas.
