Nepalese Ulema urge Saudis to stop politicizing Holy Places

During an event held in the capital city of Katmandu on Monday by Tanzeem Ulema Islam Organization, they criticized the Saudi policies on Hajj and the Holy Sites and stressed that the holy shrines belonged not to a single country but to the whole Islamic world.

Addressing the gathering was the Chief Mufti of Nepal and President of Tanzeem Ulema Islam, Mufti Shabeehul Hasan who stressed that not only Hajj, but the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, were being used by the government of Saudi Arabia for its political advantages.

The cleric described the Saudi regime as 'rogue' and said, 'There is an ambiance of religious proscribe in the Islamic World due to Saudi regime’s use of holy places Mecca and Medina in its dirty politics. As Al-Saud captured the holy land of Hajj pilgrims, Saudi Arabian regime is using the holy places as political tool. They find Haramain (the two Holy Lands) and Hajj a diplomatic implement and wish to control the Islamic World by using it. We do and will reproach the act.'

The political figure, Mauna Khan, said that 'Saudi Arabia uses its oversight of the Hajj to bolster its standing in the Muslim world and to spite its foes.'

He further challenged the legitimacy of Saudi Arabian authority in the religious affairs and pointed to the position of Islam and International law on banning the worshipping rights.

Sheikh Kaleem Aarfi who is the rector of Jamia Amjadia Nepal noted that 'It is unholy and Un-Islamic to use holy places for the political motives. You see how they are banning the different citizens across the globe on the politic spite while Hajj belongs to Islam not to Al-Sauds'.

This Nepali religious leader said that Nepali Hajj pilgrims will not bear the interference in the Hajj policies.

Maulana Mushtaq Tehsini, Imam of a Jama Masjid, argued that Saudi Arabia had violated the conditions of its role as custodian of the Islamic faith's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina. 'Only God has the right to forbid anyone to go on Hajj, not Saudi Arabia,' he added.

'Al Saud, who holds power in Saudi Arabia, sees itself as the custodian of the Holy Haramain (Medina and Mecca) and repeatedly claimed that Al Saud regime has never polluted Hajj ritual with politics. However, Al Saud has never been able to refrain from a political and instrumental look at this religious privilege. Al Saud has proved in practice that whenever Saudi Arabia is in a state of conflict and tension with a country, it attempts to take away the religious rights and opportunity of the Hajj from the citizens of that country.'

'Use of the Hajj pilgrimage as a political tool by Saudi regime has limited Muslims' access to Islamic holy sites,' he added.

267**1424**1771

Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish