Jakarta – Security officers at the Grand Mosque stopped attempts to raise the Palestinian flag around the Kaaba, precisely on the tawaf route. This was revealed in a viral video upload when a female congregation wanted to take a photo in front of the Kaaba with a Palestinian flag as a form of solidarity with the Gaza Strip.
Saudi local media, Noon Post reported that the incident occurred on Thursday, February 22 2024. “It is forbidden to show solidarity with Gaza at the Grand Mosque!” reads the caption on his Instagram.
Seen detikWisdom via a video upload, Monday (26/2/2024), a woman in ihram clothing appears next to the Kaaba while proudly waving the Palestinian flag. Security personnel at the Grand Mosque quickly came to him and stopped the congregation.
The female congregation was then seen immediately folding the flag and distancing herself from the security officers who had gathered around her. This incident also attracted the attention of other congregants in the surrounding area.
There has been no official statement regarding the fate of the Hajj pilgrims, whether there were arrests or not. However, reported by Saudi Arabia’s Meem Magazine, the female congregation was finally detained by local security officers.
Previously, a similar thing happened to an actor and presenter from England named Islah Abdur-Rahman at the Grand Mosque in October 2023. At that time, he was performing Umrah with his family.
Abdur-Rahman said he was detained by Saudi authorities for wearing a keffiyeh (Palestinian scarf) in Mecca. He voiced this because of his concerns about the ban on the use of symbols or forms of solidarity for Palestine in Saudi territory.
“I was stopped by four soldiers because I was wearing a white keffiyeh on my head and prayer beads in the colors of the Palestinian flag on my wrist,” he told Middle East Eye.
Abdur-Rahman said he was escorted to a special location along with people detained on suspicion of crimes or violations. He also said that he was interrogated by several soldiers until he was asked to sign a release form by providing his fingerprints.
Watch the video “Bargaining at the Tiban Market at the Grand Mosque, 4 dresses for only IDR 200 thousand”
(rah/kri)
2024-02-26 12:17:22
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