Saudi forces arrest pilgrim for raising Palestinian flag in Mecca
Footage shared online shows the man crying out 'Wa Islamah!', a phrase used historically to express anguish when Islam or Muslims are under threat, as he pleads for urgent intervention to help Gaza's starving population.
The emotional scene, captured and circulated on social media, shows the pilgrim saying 'the children of Gaza are dying. O Muslims!'. Seconds later, Saudi officers appear and detain him inside the mosque.
The incident has reignited debate over Saudi Arabia's strict bans on political expression at Islam's holiest sites. Authorities prohibit all slogans and symbols, including national flags, during Hajj and Umrah, arguing such measures protect the sanctity of worship.
However, critics accuse the kingdom of using these restrictions to stifle support for Palestine and suppress expressions of Muslim solidarity.
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In 2023, a British pilgrim was detained for wearing a white keffiyeh and a Palestinian-coloured prayer bead.
Beyond Mecca, Saudi authorities have reportedly launched a broader crackdown on citizens who criticise Israel or voice solidarity with Gaza online.
Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rose to power in 2017, rights groups have documented a surge in arrests linked to peaceful speech, particularly posts viewed as critical of the kingdom's foreign policy or regional alliances.
As Israel's war on Gaza continues, the arrest in Mecca has deepened concerns that public support for Palestine is being criminalised in Saudi Arabia.
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