Saudi Arabia warns against political rallies during Haj

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JEDDAH, Oct 4: A Saudi security chief warned on Thursday that the kingdom will not tolerate any attempt to exploit the hajj pilgrimage to stage political rallies, as Iranians have in the past, provoking deadly clashes with police.

“We will not allow any attempt to exploit this gathering for aims that are not related to the rituals,” said General Saad al-Khelyawi, the commander of hajj security forces.

“All attempts to threaten the security of the Haj and pilgrims will be dealt with firmness,” he said, as pilgrims began to arrive in Saudi Arabia for the Haj.

He was responding to a question in a media briefing about reported calls from Iran to stage a “repudiation of polytheists” rally, a ritual promoted by the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to denounce the West and Israel.

Saudi security forces have confronted Iranian pilgrims several times in the past for holding anti-US and anti-Israeli protests.