Videos of transgender individuals in Ihram at Masjid Al Haram spark debate

Videos of transgender individuals wearing Ihram at Masjid Al Haram went viral, prompting discussions about appropriate attire for such individuals in sacred places.

Several clips showed transgender individuals filming themselves at the holy site after performing the Umrah pilgrimage.

The footage led to debates on whether those with more feminine physical characteristics should be permitted to wear Ihram, with some arguing that it undermines the sanctity of the Haram.

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Critics claimed that such visuals were promoting the LGBTQ agenda and desecrating religious sites.

Many assumed the individuals in the videos were actually women dressed in men’s Ihram, while others urged Saudi authorities to enforce stricter regulations to maintain the sanctity of the holy site.

However, transgender activist Mehrub Awan responded to the criticism, stating that intersex individuals also strongly oppose wearing Ihram and often prefer wearing an abaya. However, due to objections from some religious scholars, they are compelled to wear Ihram.

She acknowledged that transgender individuals wearing Ihram could be seen as disrespectful to the holy places and cautioned that such visuals might lead to a ban on their pilgrimage.

Previously, several transgender individuals faced difficulties in performing Umrah as Saudi authorities rejected their applications due to the 'X' gender marker on their CNICs.

The Kingdom required that their gender be officially specified as either male or female in their documents.