Watan-In a not unfamiliar incident, Saudi security prevented a pilgrim from raising the Palestinian flag inside the Haram in Mecca, in solidarity with Gaza, under the pretext of prohibiting slogans and flags during Hajj and Umrah ceremonies.
A woman wearing ihram clothing appeared next to the Kaaba, raising the Palestinian flag. A Saudi security member is seen approaching her, attempting to stop her from raising it.
The woman is seen folding the flag and moving away from the security personnel who gathered around her, fearing her arrest, as has happened in several cases.
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The video ended with a gathering of Haram security personnel around the pilgrim woman, whose fate and whether she was arrested or not remains unknown.
The circulated video did not provide information about the identity or nationality of the pilgrim who raised the Palestinian flag in the Haram.
Arrest of pilgrims
In recent weeks, opposition circles in Saudi Arabia revealed arrests of pilgrims inside the Meccan Haram due to their support for Palestine and solidarity with Gaza in light of the Israeli massacres.
Many pilgrims of various nationalities were detained in both the Meccan and Medina Harams for wearing Palestinian scarves.
Saudi activists emphasized that this official stance of the Saudi authorities does not represent the stance of the people, as the majority of the population stands with the Palestinian cause.
Saudi Arabia bans wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh at the Red Sea festival: Reactions and comments on social media, particularly on Twitter, varied between those supportive of the woman and those opposed. Tariq Al-Zahrani asked: “Why aren’t those who insult God and the prophets in Riyadh arrested? Why aren’t Saudi women who insult the flag of monotheism on National Day arrested?”
Mohyeddin commented: “Saudi Arabia is descending the same path as Iran in the final days of the Shah, with extravagance in spending amidst poverty and a tight grip on security.”
Rowan Munir questioned: “Isn’t it strange that the Saudi regime claims to support Palestinians with money, weapons, food, and medicine?”
Others believed that the Saudi authorities were justified in their actions and that the Haramain (the two holy mosques) are places of worship and rituals and should not be venues for political slogans, as they described it.