Qatar welcome Saudi Arabia’s move to open land border for Hajj pilgrims
A day after Saudi Arabia announced it would open the Salwa border for use by Hajj pilgrims from the country, Qatar said it appreciated the move but wanted the blockade to be lifted completely.
The announcement, which was put out in Saudi Arabia’s official Press Agency, said Qatari citizens who wished to perform the annual pilgrimage could pass through with no electronic permissions needed.
The statement had added that Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had invited Qatari pilgrims to perform this year’s Hajj pilgrimage at his expense.
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani welcomed the decision but insisted Hajj should not be politicised and that the move should also include a full lifting of the political and economic blockade imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia and three other countries.
“Regardless of the manner in which Qataris were banned from the pilgrimage, which was politicised, and the manner in which they were again permitted to make the pilgrimage, which was also politicised ... the government of Qatar welcomes the decision and will respond positively,” the foreign minister was quoted as saying by Gulf Times at a Press conference with his Swedish counterpart in Stockholm.
The crisis has so far affected over 13,000 people from Qatar as well as the blockading countries.
Last month, Saudi Arabia said Qataris wanting to perform this year’s Hajj would be allowed to enter the kingdom, but imposed certain restrictions including that those arriving by plane must use airlines in agreement with Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) welcomed the Saudi decision to reopen the land border, but considered it vague, especially concerning pilgrims residing in Qatar.
NHRC, in a statement on Thursday, demanded that all pilgrims get the same treatment and services without discrimination.
“The NHRC emphasises that the Hajj cannot be used for political and personal calculations or mediations, rather, it is a right guaranteed by international agreements on Human Rights and Islamic law,” it said.
There should be a direct letter sent out to the Saudi rulers on the happy occasion of Eid, emphasizing to embrace the Arab Muslims of same heritage, with open heart.
The letter should also state to sit together and find a respectable solution to the differences.
I am sure that such a small move will have the potential to open the doors.
This is a big step forward towards the table talks, that shall happen sooner than later, now. While Qatar hails and celebrate it, more similar forays shall open the closed doors, by advancing the call for unity despite differing opinions, for reducing the sufferings of people on both the sides. If the voices reach directly to the ears of Saudi King and the Crown Prince, they shall not waste a moment to eliminate the confrontation. So, more direct communications are needed.