Unveiling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Hostility: The Enigma of Palestinian Flag Repression

Watan-The Rights Violations Observatory for Hajj and Umrah condemned the Saudi authorities’ arrest of pilgrims inside the Holy Mosque of Mecca for showing solidarity with the Palestinian people and raising the Palestinian flag as an expression of this solidarity.

This comes after repeated incidents, the latest being just days ago when security personnel at the Holy Mosque arrested a pilgrim for raising the Palestinian flag in front of the Kaaba, which was documented on video by other pilgrims.

The Observatory emphasized in its statement that the Saudi authorities must refrain from using the rituals of Hajj and Umrah for political propaganda or to cover up human rights violations.

Why is it only the Palestinian flag that is prohibited?

The Observatory continued to point out the irony of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s regime allowing large numbers of pilgrims to raise flags of their countries while arresting anyone who raises the Palestinian flag or any symbol associated with it, even if it’s just a scarf.

من المفارقات التي تكشف سياسة #السعودية في تسييس شعائر الحج والعمرة، السماح لأعداد كبيرة من المعتمرين برفع أعلام بلدانهم، بينما يتم اعتقال أي شخص يرفع علم #فلسطين أو أي رمز يرتبط بها، حتى لو كان مجرد شال. pic.twitter.com/aefzn2A1xJ

— مرصد انتهاكات الحج والعمرة (@HajjIsNotSafe) February 27, 2024

The Observatory also highlighted in general that all individuals, including those opposed to the Saudi government, should have the right to visit the Holy Kaaba safely, without being threatened, arrested, or handed over to their opponents.

Many activists on social media criticized the Saudi authorities for their unprecedented and malicious approach, allowing the flags of most countries in the Holy Mosques while keeping the Palestinian flag and anything associated with it prohibited, even punishable by arbitrary arrest.

According to the Rights Violations Observatory, Saudi authorities arrested a pilgrim just days ago after she raised the Palestinian flag in the Holy Mosque of Mecca.

اعتقال معتمرة بسبب رفعها لعلم فلسطين !
لماذا هذه الحساسية من إظهار التعاطف مع فلسطين ؟
لا يوجد مبرر عقلي أو شرعي أو نظامي ، المبرر الوحيد هو الخيانة وكره أي نوع من الممارسات التي تظهر التعاطف مع #غزة ! pic.twitter.com/zyPjppLsPX

— ناصر بن عوض القرني (@NasserAwadQ) February 23, 2024

The Saudi authorities’ arrest of the pilgrim who raised the Palestinian flag during her performance of Umrah was strongly condemned, as this action constitutes a blatant violation of international law and human rights, as raising the Palestinian flag is not considered a punishable crime.

“This incident is not the first of its kind; it has been preceded by arrests of pilgrims who wore the Palestinian scarf or expressed their support for the Palestinian cause,” the Observatory stated.

The Observatory stressed that this action constitutes a blatant violation of international law and human rights, as raising the Palestinian flag is not considered a crime punishable by law.

It emphasized that pilgrims have the right to express their opinions freely, and they should not be arrested merely for showing solidarity with humanitarian issues like the Palestinian cause.

من حق المعتمرين التعبير عن آرائهم بحرية، ولا ينبغي اعتقالهم لمجرد تضامنهم مع القضايا الإنسانية مثل قضية فلسطين. pic.twitter.com/ozTxCLUQDL

— مرصد انتهاكات الحج والعمرة (@HajjIsNotSafe) February 28, 2024

Violations by the Saudi authorities against pilgrims

The Human Rights Observatory added, “Muslims intending to perform Hajj and Umrah are increasingly concerned with the increasing violations by the Saudi authorities against pilgrims who support the Palestinian cause.”

It continued, “The pilgrim no longer feels safe and secure when going for Hajj and Umrah, fearing that the Saudi authorities’ repression will befall them as it has befallen many before them, without any legal justification.”

Calls have increased urging the Saudi authorities to make the Holy Mosques a safe place, where pilgrims are not arrested or prevented from accessing them.

سيبقى النظام السعودي الحالي والذي يقوده صبي الدرعية الوسخ.. هو أسوأ نظام يحكم بلاد الحرمين… لما رفع علم الهند.. كان الامر طبيعي.. لكن لما رفع علم فلسطين كانت ذلك جريمة ويجب ان يعاقب صاحبها. #اللعنة pic.twitter.com/VhLI12XQhZ

— عبدالغني علي الزبيدي (@Abdlgni_AZubidi) February 27, 2024

However, the Observatory stated that the Saudi authorities do not heed these calls and continue to prevent and arrest those who oppose them, whether in political positions or intellectual opinions.

The Rights Violations Observatory called on all human rights organizations, civil society organizations, religious institutions, and institutions facilitating pilgrims to urgently intervene to stop the human rights violations against pilgrims, due to their expression of their opinions or their solidarity with humanitarian issues.