A man who claimed to have traveled to the Muslim holy city of Mecca to complete an Umrah pilgrimage on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II has been detained by Saudi authorities.
The man, a Yemeni national, posted a video recording of himself on social media on Monday while in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the most sacred place in Islam, which is off-limits to non-Muslims.
He was seen in the video holding up a sign that read, “Umrah for the soul of Queen Elizabeth II, we ask God to accept her in heaven and among the righteous.”
On Saudi social media, the video was extensively shared, and some on Twitter demanded that the man be arrested.
Saudi Arabia prohibits Mecca visitors from chanting slogans or carrying banners.
And while doing Umrah on behalf of Muslims who have passed away is acceptable, this rule does not apply to non-Muslims like the queen, who served as the head of the Church of England, the body that founded the Anglican Communion worldwide.
Criminal detained
Security forces at the Grand Mosque “arrested a resident of Yemeni nationality who appeared in a video clip carrying a banner inside the Grand Mosque, violating the regulations and instructions for Umrah,” said a statement carried by state media late on Monday.
“He was arrested, legal measures were taken against him and he was referred to the public prosecution.”
Umrah, sometimes referred to as the ‘lesser’ or ‘minor’ pilgrimage, consists of carrying out a set of rites in the precinct of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. It can be undertaken at any time – distinct from the Hajj, which takes place once annually and usually draws millions from around the globe.
On Thursday, the queen passed away. Her funeral is scheduled for September 19.
Related:
Hajj and Umrah during Covid-19 Pandemic
Editors’ Picks
Hajj: The Journey Of A Lifetime, A New book by Hafiz Akinde
Bama Cap: A West African Artistic Marvel
Boluwasefe Raji Muinat: Every Person is a Brand, and Personal Branding is Here to Stay
DONATE
For Advert Inquiries
Tele/+234 7036309859
E-mail: themuslimvoiceng@gmail.com
For News/Article
E-mail: themuslimvoiceng@gmail.com
