Saudi asks Qatar to remove all obstacles placed on its pilgrims

The government has taken all steps to ensure all means are utilised to facilitate the arrival of Haj and Umrah pilgrims from Qatar.

The Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah urged authorities in Qatar to facilitate arrival of pilgrims in the Kingdom and withdraw all obstacles imposed by Doha, preventing its citizens and residents from performing the pilgrimage.

In a statement, Ministry of Haj and Umrah said the Saudi government has taken all steps to ensure all means are utilised to facilitate the arrival of Haj and Umrah pilgrims from Qatar as well as Muslims from around the world.

Over 1.7 million pilgrims will perform this year's Haj while nearly 8 million Muslims from all over the world will perform Umrah.
"The Ministry of Haj and Umrah rejects allegations made by the Qatari Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs that the government of Saudi Arabia is obstructing those who wish to visit the holy sites to perform Haj and Umrah," Saudi Gazette quoted the ministry as saying in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

"They should not prevent them. They should help them perform the Haj and Umrah without bringing politics into the matter," the statement read. The ministry called on Qatar to cooperate and facilitate travel of both, citizens and residents, to perform Haj and Umrah in safety, comfort and reassurance.
 

• Saudi Arabia