Politicization of pilgrimage
IRAN’S state- owned media has extensively covered Iranians’ ability this year to attend the Haj, a religious pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest sites of Makkah and Madinah. But instead of using the opportunity to promote peace between Shiites and Sunnis, Tehran is spreading an inaccurate narrative. Once again, it is turning this religious duty into a geopolitical and sectarian issue.
Several officials and outlets have characterized Iran’s participation in the Haj as a political victory against Saudi Arabia. Press TV announced the news with the headline: “Deal reached after Saudis submitted to Iran’s Haj conditions.” The Haj is supposed to be a symbol of unity between all Muslims, but Tehran is continuing to politicize it.
Ali Qazi- Askar, the representative of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Haj and pilgrimage affairs, reportedly said: “The final agreement came about after several bouts of negotiations with the Saudi Haj minister, which featured the stipulation of Iran’s straight and logical approach.” He added: “The Saudis declared that they would take the responsibility and ensure comfort, esteem, dignity and safety for the Iranian pilgrims while they are in the Kingdom.”
Similarly, in September 2016, when Muslims were performing the Haj, Khamenei wrote on his website: “The world of Islam must fundamentally reconsider the management of the two holy places and the issue of Haj.”
The truth is, it was Iran that dropped all its numerous illogical and unnecessary conditions this year. But Saudi Arabia did not go around hailing the agreement as a geopolitical victory. Its reaction has been very civilized, non- political and professional.
The official Saudi Press Agency ( SPA) stated: “The Ministry of Haj and Umrah and the Iranian Organization for Haj and Ziyarah have completed all the necessary measures to ensure Iranian pilgrims perform Haj 1438 according to the procedures followed by all Muslim countries.” The Haj Ministry added that the Kingdom welcomes “all pilgrims from all the different nationalities and backgrounds.”
Iran needed this agreement more than Saudi Arabia. Tehran projects itself as the frontrunner and savior of the Muslim world. Religiously speaking, Khamenei does not consider himself solely the leader of the Iranian people or the Shiite community, but of all Muslims. This modern Shiite theology first materialized, and was implemented, by his predecessor Ruhollah Khomeini.
This begs the question: How was a country that projects itself as leader of the Muslim world unable to dispatch its own citizens to Makkah and Madinah? And why is Khamenei prioritizing his political and sectarian interests over people’s need to perform their religious duty? Not being able to send its own citizens to the pilgrimage was damaging Khamenei’s and Iran’s self-portrayal.
Furthermore, the office of the supreme leader, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC), own major travel agencies and organizations that send hundreds of thousands Iranians every year for pilgrimages. Not being able to dispatch them to Makkah and Madinah represented a considerable loss of revenues. In addition, for Tehran, performing pilgrimages in other countries is a powerful means of exporting its Shiite and revolutionary ideals.
Tehran’s political and sectarian interests should not trump the religious needs of ordinary people who desire to perform the Haj. Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated, Iranian-American political scientist. He is a leading expert on Iran and US foreign policy, a businessman and president of the International American Council. He serves on the boards of the Harvard International Review, the Harvard International Relations Council and the US-Middle East Chamber for Commerce and Business. He can be reached on Twitter @Dr_Rafizadeh.