Alwaght- Qatar condemned Saudi Arabia for barring its citizens from performing hajj in Mecca, Saying Saudi Riyadh had shut down an electronic system used by travel agencies to obtain permits for pilgrims from Qatar.
Although 1,200 Qataris are eligible to perform the hajj under a quota system, Qatar says it has become impossible to get permits, blaming the campaign by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to cut trade and diplomatic ties with the country.
“There is no chance this year for Qatari citizens and residents to travel for hajj,” Abdullah Al-Kaabi of the state-run Qatar National Human Rights Committee told Reuters. “Registration of pilgrims from the State of Qatar remains closed, and residents of Qatar cannot be granted visas as there are no diplomatic missions.”
Saudi Arabia, however, denies the claim saying the Qatari government is using the issue for political ends and it “rejects any effort to politicize the hajj or drag political differences” into the pilgrimage, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Saudi Arabia, and the three other Arab countries imposed a land, air and sea embargo on Qatar since June last year, seeking to force the nation to follow their policies in the region.
“Last year we lost a lot of money as the crisis started after we had booked everything in Mecca and Medina and we had to pay people back,” said a manager of one travel agency in Doha, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“This year, nobody is really trying as people have understood there is no way to go there in these circumstances.”
Riyadh temporarily opened the land border for the hajj last year, but not this time. A travel agency catering to migrant laborers in Doha said that had hit business.
“We sell hajj journeys by bus with accommodation for around 12,000 riyals,” its manager said. “But as nobody can get visas and land borders are closed, it is zero bookings this year.”
