Arab News

Makkah governor rejects Qatar’s attempt to reduce Saudi role in Hajj

‘There can be no politiciza­tion of pilgrimage,’ he says

- MOHAMMED AL-SULAMI

Prince Khaled, adviser to King Salman and governor of Makkah Region, was speaking at the inaugurati­on of the “Hajj is Worship and Civilized Behavior” campaign. “Hajj is a message of peace,” he said.

On the campaign by Qatar to reduce the role of the Kingdom in providing services to pilgrims, Prince Khaled said: “The answer is in the title of this campaign ... There can be no politiciza­tion of pilgrimage.”

Prince Khaled said Saudi Arabia’s leadership, government and people were keen to provide everything to serve the Hajj pilgrims, and to enable them to perform their pilgrimage with ease.

He urged all pilgrims to be infused with Islamic ethics and to be a model of Muslim civilizati­on.

“The campaign since its inception has achieved great achievemen­ts and successes, including the reduction of the rate of offenders to 5 percent during the pilgrimage season compared to 9 percent in the previous year,” he said.

“There is a lot of doubting, but the lesson is in the results and the achievemen­t. The regulation­s will be applied firmly and with Islamic ethics.”

Prince Khaled revealed that the Makkah Region Developmen­t Authority had implemente­d projects worth SR300 million this year to improve Hajj services and develop them in the current season. The authority and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah would implement a large project in the holy sites to be announced in due course, he said. “All sectors have their achievemen­ts in the pilgrimage season.”

The campaign, launched by the

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia rejects all attempts to politicize and internatio­nalize the Hajj, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, said on Monday.

emirate of Makkah in 2008, continues to spread the Hajj message of peace. It will work to consolidat­e the ultimate goal of bringing millions together for performing a pillar of Islam based on peace and spirituali­ty.

The objectives of the campaign are to educate pilgrims to abide by public laws and regulation­s, thus contributi­ng significan­tly to a safe and peaceful pilgrimage.

The campaign targets citizens, residents, Tawafa organizati­ons, Hajj companies, the transport sector and the media.

 ??  ?? King Salman receives Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
King Salman receives Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
 ??  ?? Prince Khaled Al-Faisal affirmed the Kingdom's rejection of all calls aiming at politicizi­ng and internatio­nalizing Hajj.
Prince Khaled Al-Faisal affirmed the Kingdom's rejection of all calls aiming at politicizi­ng and internatio­nalizing Hajj.

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