Qatari pilgrims begin entering Saudi Arabia after border opened, decision welcomed – UPDATE

Saudi Arabia opened a border crossing for Qataris making the haj pilgrimage and provided a plane to fly pilgrims in, despite a rift in which Saudi Arabia and other states in the region severed transport links with Qatar.

UPDATE 2: Qatar welcomes the opening of the Saudi-Qatari border enabling Qataris to go on pilgrimage to Mecca, even if the move is politically-motivated, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Thursday.

“Despite the fact it’s been politically-motivated to ban the Qatari people from haj and politically that they allow them … we welcome such a step, which is a step forward to get rid of this blockade which is imposed against my country,” Sheikh Mohammed told a news conference on a visit to Sweden.

UPDATE 1: Fifty Qatari pilgrims entered Saudi territory for the annual haj pilgrimage on Thursday after authorities opened the border crossing for the first time since a Gulf diplomatic rift in June, Al Arabiya TV reported.

The pilgrims entered as guests of the Saudi king, Al Arabiya said.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut transport links with Qatar in June and imposed sanctions, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and Iran, which Doha denies.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the Salwa border point would be open for Qataris making the haj, which this year runs from late August to early September.

Saudi Arabia had said Qatari pilgrims would not be affected by the travel restrictions, but some Qataris have said they faced difficulties organising the trip.

Qatari pilgrims can pass through the crossing without the permits usually needed to be obtained in advance for the haj, SPA said.

The Saudi king has ordered the dispatch of a Saudi Airlines plane to fly Qatari pilgrims to Jeddah at his own expense, SPA reported. Qatari pilgrims would also be able to pass through two of the Kingdom’s airports, SPA said.

Qatar had accused Saudi Arabia of politicizing the pilgrimage and complained to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion last month.

It was not clear how far the opening of the border to pilgrims would go to help heal the rift, the worst among U.S-allied Gulf Arab countries for years. Qatari media did not immediately carry the Saudi report.

A Qatari government spokesman had no immediate comment but said Qatari Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Jassim al-Thani who held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman before the announcement was made, did not hold a position in the Qatari government.

A Qatari semi-government rights body gave a cautious welcome to the Saudi move.

“This is a step towards removing the obstacles and difficulties (Qataris) faced during haj procedures this year,” the National Human Rights Committee said in a statement.

Some Qataris said that even with permission to enter Saudi Arabia they would be concerned for their safety.

“I think it is very risky to go to Mecca this year, there could be hate crimes against Qataris,” said Fatima al-Mohannadi, a Qatari student.

Between 2 million and 3 million Muslims from around the world travel to Islam’s holiest city for the pilgrimage each year. Every able-bodied Muslim is supposed to undertake it at least once.

Photo: Wikipedia