Selfie ban

Move to ensure tranquillity while performing acts of worship, say authorities

Saudi Arabia bans selfies at Islam’s two holiest sites: the Great Mosque of Mecca and ‘The Prophet’s Mosque’ of Medina.

JAKARTA: The Saudi Arabian government has banned pilgrims from taking photos and videos using any devices for any purpose at Islam’s two holiest mosques.

According to reports, the ban imposed in Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram, known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, and Medina’s Masjid an-Nabawi, or ‘The Prophet’s Mosque,’ was taken by the Saudi foreign ministry on Nov 12, Turkey’s The Daily Sabah newspaper reported.

The change was communicated by Saudi’s Foreign Ministry through a diplomatic note sent to accredited representatives of foreign countries on Saudi Arabian soil, including Indonesia’s embassy in Riyadh. The embassy received the letter on Nov 15.

Saudi authorities stated that the measure was imposed to protect and preserve the holy sites, prevent disturbances of worshippers and ensure tranquillity while performing acts of worship.

Some have even posed in groups, carrying banners or flags of their respective countries in the yards of the two mosques. Critics have said such “touristy acts” detracted from the essence of a pilgrimage as they raised questions about whether the pilgrimage was just a trip to take photos.

“In the case of any violation of the ban, security guards have been instructed to confiscate the photos and the camera if needed,” the statement said, adding that the change should be disseminated to every haj and umrah tour operator in their respective countries.

Many Indonesians have expressed their disappointment, saying that photos and videos taken at the mosques were meant as mementos, especially as visiting the sites may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I agree it’s annoying when people take too many selfies, but it’s a pity if we are no longer allowed to immortalise the beauty of the Kaaba or Nabawi. Nadhira Adiatri

Indonesian Nadhira Adiatri recalls taking photos with her family in front of the Kaaba at the Al-Haram Grand Mosque during her umrah (minor haj pilgrimage) to Islam’s holiest city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, five years ago.

“I agree it’s annoying when people take too many photos and selfies, but it’s a pity if we are no longer allowed to immortalise the beauty of the Kaaba or the moving dome in Nabawi Mosque,” the 25-year-old said.

“I only took a few photos using my smartphone camera to capture memorable moments, but I did it quietly to avoid disturbing others and only when the guards were not around,” Nadhira said on Friday.

The Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry’s directorate general of haj and umrah has said it would immediately cooperate with associations of umrah travel operators and the Haj Pilgrimage Counselling Group to disseminate information about the ban to hopeful pilgrims during their preparations, said a spokesman. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network