Indian Muslims Chide Saudi Over Ban On Iranian Pilgrims

MEP: In a bit to abrogate the ban imposed by Saudi Arabia on Iranian pilgrims from performing Hajj, Indian Muslims condemned the move in a seminar here in New Delhi.

The seminar was organized by All India Muttahid Milli Mahaz headed by Qari Mohammad Aijaz. Prominent Muslim figures from different Muslim sects attended the seminar at Ghalib Academy.

Dr. Tasleem Ahmad Rahmani speaking on the issue said that Makka and Madina don’t belong to Saudi regime. He urged to form an international council to conduct Hajj. Dr. Hassan Kumaili maintained that the Hajj is a unique platform to integrate and unite the whole Muslim Ummah but unfortunately the same platform is using otherwise to divide and create conflict among the different sects with in Islam.

Moulana Mohsin Taqvi urged the Muslims to mediate talks to minimize the conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This would result in organizing the Hajj in a better way.

Qari Mohammad Ajaz popularly known as Urfi Qasimi criticized the Saudi Arabia government for past problems took place during Hajj. Beware that a stampede during last year Hajj caused thousands dead and hundreds injured. This caused anger among the Muslims in all over the world and popular voices are demanding to manage the Hajj by international organization.

Moulana Mehmood chided the Saudi regime over banning the Iranian Pilgrims and pronounced that no regime has right to ban any one from performing Hajj. Shams Tabreez Qasimi – owner of Millat Times – while concluding the seminar criticized the recent decree of the Saudi Grand Mufti declaring Iran as Non-Muslim. Abd al-Aziz Al ash-Sheikh the foremost religious leader of Saudi Arabia, made the comments a day after Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Saudi authorities of killing injured Muslims during the Hajj tragedy in Mecca last year, in which thousands people lost their lives in a stampede while visiting Islam’s holiest site.

Saudi Grand Mufti told the Mecca newspaper in an interview that the Iranian leader’s comments were “not surprising,” as the Iranians are the descendents of the Zoroastrians, a religious group that had assimilated elements of Islam and Christianity before being conquered by the Arabs. “We must understand that they are not Muslims, as they are the descendents of the Magus, and their animosity towards Muslims – especially the Sunnis – is very ancient,” Al ash-Sheikh said.