Tehran criticizes Saudi Arabia’s decision on Hajj

SANAA, Jun. 14 (YPA) –  Iran criticized Saudi Arabia for its decisions to limit the Hajj pilgrimage to a certain number of people inside the country.

Syed Abdul-Fattah Nawab, the representative of Mr. Ali Khamenei in the affairs of Hajj and visitation, stressed that Saudi Arabia was obligated to remove this problem by setting appropriate programs and plans, instead of restricting this obligation to its citizens.

Saudi Arabia announced, on Saturday, that the performance of the Hajj pilgrimage this year will be limited to citizens and residents only, with only 60,000 people allowed to perform the pilgrimage, in light of the outbreak of the “Covid-19” epidemic.

The Iranian emir of Hajj expressed his regret at the announcement by the Saudi authorities.

He considered it depriving foreign and Iranian visitors for the second year, following the outbreak of the Corona epidemic, from going to the holy lands, according to the official Iranian news agency, “IRNA”.
Syed Abdel Fattah Nawab indicated that Iran had made all preparations with the aim of sending Iranian visitors to the Holy Land, but Saudi Arabia decided for the second year, without consulting with Islamic countries or responding to their inquiries, to monopolize this great Islamic duty to its citizens or foreigners residing in this country. The country does not change.