Muslim Council Of Elders refuses Qatar attempts to politicize Hajj

CAIRO – 31 July 2017: The Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) refused Qatar’s attempts to politicize the Hajj, according to the council’s Secretary General Ali Rashid Al-Nuaimi on Monday.

During their urgent meeting held for the latest events and violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, the council discussed Qatar’s latest escalations regarding the Hajj, as several media outlets reported a couple days ago that Qatar demanded the internationalization of holy sites, which was described as a declaration of war against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir.

On July 31, Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs stopped electronic Hajj registration for Qatari citizens and residents without clarifying the reasons behind the registration suspension.

On the other side, Saudi authorities welcomed the Qatari pilgrims this year and secured nine corridors to be used in emergency cases – one over the Mediterranean Sea under Egypt’s control and eight more in the Arab Gulf area – adding that the measure had been adopted under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Regarding the Al–Aqsa Mosque violations, the Muslim Sages Council refused the continued violations by the occupying Israeli forces. “The Al-Aqsa case is not related to one specific organization or entity,” Al-Nuaimi said, calling for a clear strategy regarding handling the current situation.

On July27, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that the latest violations by the Israeli occupation forces at Al-Aqsa Mosque caused a “rage-wave” inside all Arab cities and countries, warning against any further escalations to the crisis.

He added during his speech at the emergency meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of Arab foreign ministers that the latest escalations, which included imposing several security measures, taking illegal decisions and banning Palestinians from praying, will “provoke the religious sentiments” of Muslims around the world.

Several clashes have taken place since July 14 between Palestinians and Israeli forces close to Bab Al-Asbat, one of Al-Aqsa Mosque’s doors, and hundreds have been injured.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered one of the holiest Islamic places, after the Great Mosque of Mecca and Al-Masjid an-Nabawī (the Prophet's Mosque) in Saudi Arabia.

The Muslim Council of Elders is an Independent International Body, established July 2014, that discusses Muslim issues and cases. The council includes several Islamic scholars and experts, including Egyptian Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb.