Criticism from Khamenei's Representative on 'Detention of Iranian Pilgrims' in Saudi Arabia

Abdul Fattah Nawab, Ali Khamenei's representative for Hajj and pilgrimage affairs, protested against what he called the 'detention of some Iranian pilgrims' during the annual religious ceremony of Hajj in Saudi Arabia. In a meeting at the office of the Supreme Leader's representative in Mecca, attended by the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh, he stated: 'Some actions by the host country (Saudi Arabia) have no precedent in any previous Hajj seasons.' Khamenei's representative referred to the expulsion of six individuals from Saudi Arabia, whom Iranian officials identified as 'members of Iran's media group' in Medina. He noted that 'for the first time in the history of Hajj,' six servants were sent back, mentioning 'some detentions' and explained: 'The pilgrims were taken away and abandoned near Jeddah, with the reason cited as the implementation of the 'unlicensed Hajj' directive, while all these individuals had valid Hajj visas to enter the country.' He mentioned that one Iranian is still detained in Medina, and the conditions for his release are 'very difficult.' This official did not provide further details about the detained individual. The 'media group' of six from Iran was expelled from Saudi Arabia after a week of detention. A few days ago, a group of six from Iran was expelled 'without performing Hajj rituals.' The state news agency reported that this 'media' group, consisting of 'six journalists and documentarians,' was detained while recording the recitation of the Quran at the Prophet's Mosque and was transferred to the central police station in Medina after several hours of interrogation without any stated reason. Although this group was detained for a week, Islamic Republic media did not publish any news on this matter. According to the state news agency, the expulsion of the Iranian media group occurred while 'follow-ups' by the Foreign Ministry and the representative of the Supreme Leader for Hajj and pilgrimage affairs, as well as the head of Iranian pilgrims and the Iranian ambassador in Saudi Arabia, were ongoing for their release. In a video report broadcast by the Islamic Republic's state television, Peyman Jabali, the head of this organization, was shown welcoming the expelled individuals at Imam Airport. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, called for the politicization of this year's Hajj by Iranian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia on April 6, stating that for him, 'this year's Hajj is a Hajj of disavowal.' He made this request during a meeting with Hajj officials, while the holding of government gatherings by the Islamic Republic in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj, known as 'disavowal of polytheists,' has always caused tensions between Tehran and Riyadh over the past decades. The Islamic Republic has had ongoing disputes with the Saudi government for over four decades due to the differing approaches of the two countries to regional issues. Relations between the two countries were severed following the attack by hardline supporters of the Islamic Republic on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad on January 1, 2016. However, the two countries resumed relations in March 2023 with the mediation of China.