Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said here yesterday that out of its duties and responsibility towards serving the guests of the Grand Mosque, it would like to make it clear to everyone that Saudi Arabia's leadership, government and people welcome and is honored to serve guests of the Two Holy Mosques of pilgrims, Umrah observers and visitors of all nationalities, ad this service is considered by the Kingdom as the most important Islamic duty. In a statement announced here yesterday, the Ministry said that: "Every year, under the guidance of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah call all officials for the affairs of the pilgrimage, in the Arab and Islamic countries, as well, and countries with Muslim minorities to come to the Kingdom, to examine and discuss the arrangements and requirements of their respective pilgrims Affairs, as there are as many as more than 78 stated, including the (Islamic Republic of Iran). The ministry would like to explain to the public what happened in the year 1437 AH, concerning pilgrimage officials, in the Islamic Republic of Iran Affairs, as follows: First/ the President of the Hajj Organization of Iran Said Oouhdi has been invited to come to the Kingdom to discuss and debate matters and requirements of arrival arrangements of Iranians to perform Hajj of the Year 1437 AH, in line with the letter of the Minister of Hajj No. 479 dated on 25/01/1437 AH. Second/ the ministry followed up arrival mechanism of the Iranian delegation with competent authorities up to obtaining of the Iranian delegation the entry visas to come to the Kingdom, through the Kingdom chancery, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 29/06/1437 AH. Third / the ministry met with a delegation of Hajj affairs from the Islamic Republic of Iran, led by the President of the Organization of the Iranian Hajj Said Oouhdi, on 07/07/1437 A H. During the meeting, all matters relating to the visit and the affairs of the Iranian Hajj, were discussed. Fourth/ Delegation of the Iranian Hajj Affairs refused to sign the minutes of the agreement to seal the arrangements for the pilgrimage of this year 1437 AH, citing the desire to offer them to a point of reference, in Iran, and expressed its strong determination to meet these following demands: - That the visas shall be granted to their pilgrims from inside Iran. - Reformulate the paragraph on civil aviation with respect to dividing transporting of pilgrims between the Iranian air carrier and the Saudi air carrier, a demand which is running contrary to the internationally recognized practice. - Include clauses in the record to allow them to hold Kameel ritual, ceremony of innocence and the visitor handout, knowing that such gatherings hinder movements of the rest of pilgrims from other Islamic world. Furthermore, the statement pointed out that the Iranian delegation left Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 12/7/1437 AH, without signing the minutes of agreed on arrangements for Iranian pilgrims for the Year 1437 AH, with the knowledge that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah welcomed and made it clear to the Iranian delegation that with regard to granting visas for Iranian pilgrims, it is possible to obtain Hajj visas electronically, from online, by inserting their pilgrims data, using standardized electronic system for the outside incoming pilgrims. With regard to arrival halt of Iranian pilgrims from inside Iran, the statement stated that: "The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah would like to indicate that the authorities in the Kingdom did not prevent, at all, coming of Iranian pilgrims and that the ban has imposed by the Iranian government, using it as a means for numerous media pressure exerted on The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." The statement emphasized that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah issued this statement to underscore, once again, that Saudi Arabia's leadership, government and people welcome all pilgrims, visitors from around the world as well as from different nationalities and their religious affiliations, and that they do not prevent any Muslim from coming to the Holy Lands to practice religion rituals as long as they are taking place, in the framework of compliance and instructions adopted for the Hajj, as Saudi Arabia has mobilized all human and material potentials to serve the pilgrims and visitors and to ensure their safety and comfort, during the performing Hajj and Umrah. Any party that may prevent their compatriots of exercising their right to perform pilgrimage, shall be responsible for its decision and be hold accountable before Allah and the entire world.
