Saudi Arabia's minister says no place for 'political slogans' in Hajj 2024

The Saudi Arabian government has reiterated that the annual Hajj pilgrimage was a religious event, not a platform for political expression.

In a statement, Saudi Hajj Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah in his statement said: “Hajj is for worship, not for any political slogans,"  Middle East Eye reported.

He emphasised that the Kingdom’s leadership was committed to ensuring the pilgrimage “embodies the highest levels of devotion, tranquillity, and spirituality.”

The announcement comes as Muslims around the world have been vocal in their condemnation of Israel’s recent devastating military campaign in Gaza. However, Saudi Arabia, which has not formally recognised Israel since its creation in 1948, has cautioned against using the Hajj as a stage for political protests.

“There has been a high level of compliance with these rules in previous years,” Al-Rabiah noted, suggesting that the Saudi government will enforce restrictions on any attempts to raise political banners or chant slogans during the pilgrimage.