Photo by [The Economic Times]
Dr Yvonne Ridley, a British journalist, expressed to Salaamedia that prominent Islamic figures are enticed to Saudi Arabia under the pretence of performing Hajj or Umrah, only to be subsequently abducted and detained by the Saudi government. They are then transferred to repressive nations allied with Saudi Arabia, where their rights are further violated.
In an article published by Middle East Monitor, Dr Ridley condemns the Saudi regime, specifically Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for exploiting Hajj and Umrah to retaliate against political opponents and journalists who dare to criticise the regime’s abuse of power. Moreover, thousands of clerics, scholars, academics, journalists, and ordinary citizens face imprisonment for expressing dissent towards the Saudi regime.
“For me, the more sinister side of the Hajj is that some very important figures are lured out to go and perform the Hajj, but once they get in, they get renditioned and kidnapped and moved to countries that they have been trying to escape persecution. They are also incarcerated in prisons in countries that have a close alliance to Saudi Arabia. So to misuse Hajj and Umrah like this is unthinkable, and this from the men who are regarded as the custodians of the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina.”
Scholars Are Reluctant to Raise Their Voice Against the Saudi Regime
Numerous human rights organisations, forums, institutions, journalists, scholars, and activists have collectively expressed and emphasised that numerous Muslims critical of the Saudi regime face barriers in fulfilling the pilgrimage obligations dictated by their faith.
Consequently, many influential Islamic leaders hesitate to speak out against the malicious exploitation of the pilgrimage, fearing potential repercussions that could jeopardise their access to the sacred lands. Dr Ridley empathises with those who choose to remain silent, particularly individuals who have witnessed their friends and colleagues being imprisoned or, even worse, subjected to enforced disappearances.
Most silent individuals reside in Western countries and are well-informed about the atrocities. Dr Ridley questions how they can reconcile their knowledge with their conscience and continue living with such awareness.
“Those scholars … Are living in the West, and they know what is happening. They’ve seen their colleagues and even friends disappear and locked up. [Yet] remain in silence. Well, in some ways, I pity them for remaining silent because I’m really not sure how they can live with their conscience.”
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Power, the Weakness of the Saudi Regime
In her article, Dr Ridley pens, “It is ironic that, today, the last place you can enjoy your rights as a Muslim is probably Saudi Arabia”. This assertion is particularly striking since every Muslim aspires to visit the sacred lands as mandated by Islamic teachings.
Dr Ridley asserts that the actions carried out by the Saudi regime demonstrate a remarkable display of weakness, considering their transformation into a regional power under the leadership of the Crown Prince. However, rather than employing this power for positive endeavours, the regime has opted to perpetuate conflicts and detain individuals who dare to criticise their policies.
“That just makes the Saudi regime look incredibly weak, that they feel compelled to lock up critics of the regime. Of course, I’m saying the regime we all know, that’s code for Muhammad bin Salman the Crown Prince, who is the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia. Thanks to him, the Saudi prisons are filled with hundreds of scholars and clerics who’ve dared to criticise him, and they’re locked up with thousands of dissidents or ordinary citizens.”
The collective endorsers of the Sanad-led campaign released a statement expressing, “We also call all scholars of the Islamic world, scholarly institutions, human rights organisations, and all Muslims in the world to remind the Saudi government of its duty towards the Holy Places and their visitors, and explicitly inform them that enabling all Muslims to visit them and ensuring their safety is a legitimate right and an imposed duty that must be done to the fullest and without discrimination or political bias.”
