Top Iranian jurisprudents are considering cancelation of Hajj 2016 following the new conditions announced for Iranian pilgrims of Hajj 2016 by Saudi officials.
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Iran’s Ali Jannati, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, met with a group of top jurisprudents explaining the new condition set by Saudi government for Iranian Hajj pilgrims of 2016 where the religious leaders rejected necessity of the annual ritual to be carried out by Iranian pilgrims saying that honor and security of pilgrims are the main priority for Islamic Republic of Iran, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).
Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, senior Shia jurisprudent in a meeting with Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance on Thursday said,” We are in pursuit of an honorable pilgrimage and once as admitted by all even our enemies, saying the last word in the region, then there is no need to be treated as an underhand.”
The cleric noted that,” Amid the condition announced by Saudi Arabia, the Arab kingdom seems to be in pursuit of disrespecting Iran; hence, they should not be expected to be cooperative for the annual pilgrimage.”
He added,” Saudi Arabia mistakenly recognizes itself as the owner of the two mosques and intends to compensate for Yemen, Syria and Iraq during Hajj pilgrimage following a political and vengeful behavior in Hajj; hence; here I announce that such a pilgrimage is neither approved by God Almighty nor by the people.”
Top scholar noted that with such approach by Saudi Arabia, the Arab kingdom is certainly unable to serve the pilgrims.
“If Saudi Arabia admits our pilgrims, then we should not be expecting satisfactory behaviors especially when everything is scheduled for our pilgrims in a complicated process.” Said the cleric calling for a plan that Hajj pilgrimage and the two mosques are managed by a board of representatives from different Muslim countries and not solely by Saudi Arabia.
Professor of Qom Seminary called Hajj as an important religious mission for all Muslims which has taken a political hue at present.
Iran’s Ali Jannati also met with grand Ayatollah Hussein Noori Hamedani, prominent Shia jurisprudent discussing the latest condition announced by Saudi Arabia for Iranian pilgrims where the cleric announced,” When security and esteem of our pilgrims is not guaranteed then Hajj is not a religious mandatory any more.
The cleric in this meeting noted,” Our Islamic Revolution happened to safeguard security, honor and Islamic respect; hence, we cannot cooperate with those who are allied with the Zionists.”
He said,” During the leadership of Imam Khomeini (RA), Hajj was canceled for a year because we should be in constant pursuit of the honor and security of Muslims and Islam,” adding,” The process should not be that Saudi Arabia does not admit us for Hajj rather we should not admit a Hajj under management of Saudi Arabia.”
Ali Jannti, in the meetings with different jurisprudents, announced that Saudi authorities have made no promises to issue visas for Iranian pilgrims and announced that our pilgrims should ask for visas through a third country, a disruption by Saudi officials which proves the preliminaries for Iranian pilgrims of Hajj 2016 are not provided yet.”
Saeed Ohadi, head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, in this meeting referred to a recent meeting between Iranian and Saudi officials regarding Hajj 2016 and said,” We stressed Saudi officials that once the security and esteem of the Iranian pilgrims is not secured, Iran will not send any pilgrims for the annual event.”
He referred to the recent reshuffle in Saudi cabinet which includes the Arab kingdom’s Minister of Hajj Affairs, a changed which has contributed little to the disagreements among Saudi authorities.
Incidents during Hajj pilgrimage 2015 have claimed the lives of several Iranian pilgrims leading Iranian officials to reconsider the future annual events.
Several pilgrims from different countries-including those from Iran- have died during the crane crash in Al Haram Mosque, thousands were killed in Mina stampede while two Iranian teenage pilgrims were sexually harassed by Jedda airport staff, incidents which have left Iranian authorities with great doubts to attend the future annual ritual.
