Qatari Newspapers Condemn Persistent of Saudi Authorities to Politicize Hajj

Doha, July 17 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers, Al-Sharq and Al-Raya, criticized Tuesday the persistent of the Saudi authorities to politicize Hajj and hindering Qataris and the residents of Qatar from performing Hajj for the second year in a row, stressing that the statements issued by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj from time to time are just an attempt to mislead the international community and improve its image. The papers highlighted the letter sent by "Al Haramain Watch", the International Commission to Watch Saudi Administration of Muslim Places, to the Human Rights Council in Geneva and the European Parliament yesterday, which represented a clear international rejection of the Saudi practices. for its part, Al-Sharq newspaper said that the Saudi authorities continue to politicize Hajj and restrict the freedom to perform religious rituals which presents a flagrant violation of human rights. The paper said that the Saudi authorities manipulate the exercise of the fifth pillar of Islam and deprive Muslims from Hajj and Umrah without reasons, and for political purposes. Al-Sharq highlighted the position of the International Commission to Watch Saudi Administration of Muslim places which carried its legal and moral responsibility to confront the Saudi violations and defend the right freely to perform the rituals, referring to the complaints its sent to the Human Rights Council and the European Parliament. Saudi Arabia must adhere to the freedom to perform religious rituals, Al-Sharq underlined. Meanwhile, Al-Raya newspaper expressed regret that Saudi Arabia continues the series of lies and misleads the Gulf and international public opinion regarding the right of Qatar's citizens and residents to perform Hajj for the second year in a row. The newspaper said that the statements issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia from time to time in this regard are just an attempt to mislead the international community on the situation of the Qatari pilgrims and to improve its image. "Al Haramain Watch", the International Commission to Watch Saudi Administration of Muslim Places sent a letter yesterday to the Human Rights Council in Geneva and the European Parliament urging them to discuss the violations committed by the Saudi administration. The letter is a clear international message to reject the Saudi practices, as they blatantly violate the freedom of religion and belief, Al-Raya said. Al-Raya stressed the need for the international community to take this case seriously and to open an international investigation in this regard, especially that the Saudi practices are not limited to the pilgrims of Qatar, but included citizens of many countries because of their political differences. Saudi Arabia turned the Hajj pilgrimage into political extortion. The Saudi authorities used Hajj as a political pressure and extended the procedures for obtaining the visa. The Qatari Hajj and Umrah campaigns were not allowed to run the affairs of Qatar's citizens, in violation of international conventions and customs, especially that pilgrims had been subjected to discriminatory practices before the unjust siege, Al-Raya added. Al-Raya expressed its surprise at Saudi Arabia's insistence on misleading the international community on the rights of citizens and residents of the State of Qatar to practice Islamic rituals in the Holy Land. (QNA)