Following patronizing Hajj security forces parade in Mina, on the outskirts of Makkah, today, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, who is also Chairman of Supreme Hajj Committee, gave answers to several questions on Hajj-related issues.
Asked about how the Kingdom is planning to deal with Hajj season this year amid the current security situation in the region, he said that the Kingdom, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, welcomes the guests of Allah Almighty and, in this regard, has spared no effort to provide state-of-the-art services for the safety, comfort and security of all pilgrims as was the practice every year.
However, the Kingdom's Hajj-related authorities have also given great attention to the security developments in the region and, accordingly, have their strict, well-prepared, contingent, pre-emptive and precautionary plans to meet whatsoever developments, he said, expressing confidence that such plans, experience and preparedness would make this year's Hajj another success.
Answering a question on Iranian media and senior officials blaming Saudi Arabia for not enabling Iranian pilgrims performing this year Hajj, he said that Saudi Arabia, since its inception is working on the Two Holy Mosques to serve and take care of pilgrims and provide all of them with facilities to perform this great ritual, in a way that leads to satisfaction of God the Almighty as they perform their rituals with ease and safety. What was aroused by Iranian media and some officials is not based on credibility and objectivity, they know before others that the Kingdom has provided Iranian pilgrims, as the rest of pilgrims, with all the facilities, but in the pilgrimage of this year, the Iranian Hajj Mission has put forward claims contrary to the purposes of the pilgrimage and contrary to the commitments of the rest of other Hajj missions, in a way that endangers the security of Hajj pilgrims, including Iranian pilgrims, as their conditions violate as well the sanctity of the place and time. The Kingdom do not allow in any way the occurrence of what is contrary to the rites of the pilgrimage that may disturb security and affect the lives of pilgrims and their safety, be them Iranians or otherwise. The Iranian authorities are not interested in the arrival of Iranian pilgrims for reasons Iranians themselves know, in the framework of their efforts to politicize Hajj and convert it into an occasion to violate the teachings of Islam, through shouting slogans and disturbing the security of pilgrims, something that we do not accept its occurrence and we stand firmly and strongly against works that breach security, during the pilgrimage.
On the Kingdom's position in case of violation of instructions during the pilgrimage by some pilgrims motivated by their countries' positions towards the Kingdom, he said that Hajj is a sacred ritual, and the place is an honored place and while our duty is guarantee safety of pilgrims and duty to facilitate performance of Hajj, with all safety and security, therefore, the Kingdom will deal firmly with violation of the purposes of Hajj and will not compromise the security of pilgrims, rather, it will be firm and decisive and each violator will be held responsible and be brought to law. Legal provisions will be applied by the judiciary. What we hope of pilgrims is to be good and not to make what will negatively affect their performance during this great worship and to enjoy what provided for them by the Kingdom under the guidance and patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may God protect him, of services and facilities, God willing, to help them fulfil their wishes of performaning a safe pilgrimage, without obscenity or sensuality.
Answering the same general previous question with special emphasis on how to deal with pilgrims coming from Yemen amid the war-stricken country, including the positions of those who oppose Saudi-supported legitimacy in Yemen, the Crown Prince cited his previous answer that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomes all pilgrims who come to attend the ritual of Hajj from any country in the world. Yemeni pilgrims, in particular, are always welcome to benefit from the facilities provided for them by the Kingdom who understands their special situations, he said, adding that Houthis and their allies are the ones who might derail Yemenis from securing their personal wills to perform Hajj, an attempt by the Houthis to exploit Yemeni would-be pilgrims to reach well-known propaganda goals away from Hajj real objectives.
He said that the Kingdom, has, as it was shouldering this great Islamic responsibility, put the needed plans and programs for all anticipated possibilities and equipped its relevant authorities with the required preparedness for any possible incidents or changes.
Asked to highlight the most prominent services and preparedness to be offered to pilgrims this year, the Crown Prince said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's leadership and people were graced to serve the guests of Allah Almighty, facilitate helping them to perform their rituals in ease, tranquility and security, invest its material and human capabilities in the service of this great Islamic message, make all its Hajj-related governmental and private sectors work to provide all kinds of advanced services around the clock for pilgrims from their entrance through their trek journey to the sacred places according to comprehensive security, service, preventive, regulatory and traffic plans through which high level security, health, food, medical, transport, communication services are provided to make their stay and travel a comfortable journey.
Despite this, the authorities have put the necessary emergency plans to deal with crises and climate changes in a manner that achieves the safety of pilgrims and facilitate performing their rituals in an atmosphere full of tranquility, security and faithfulness.