Saudi Authorities Detain Umrah Pilgrim for Raising Palestinian Flag at Grand Mosque

MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi security forces have detained an Egyptian umrah pilgrim after he raised a Palestinian flag near the Kaaba at the Masjidil Haram in Makkah, according to reports and widely circulated social media footage on Sunday (July 27).

Videos shared online show the man shouting “Wa Islamah!”—an Arabic expression conveying anguish when Islam or Muslims are perceived to be under threat. In the footage, he is also heard calling attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“Children in Gaza are dying. O Muslims!” the pilgrim cried out, appealing emotionally for action to end the blockade and hunger in the Palestinian enclave.

Within seconds, several Saudi security officers approached and escorted him away inside the mosque complex. Authorities have not immediately issued a detailed public statement regarding the individual’s legal status following the arrest.

Strict Ban on Political Expression

Saudi Arabia enforces a longstanding prohibition on political slogans, symbols, and national flags during both Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. The policy, officials say, is intended to safeguard the sanctity and spiritual focus of worship at Islam’s holiest sites.

The incident has reignited debate over the kingdom’s strict controls on political expression in the Two Holy Mosques. Critics argue that the regulations have increasingly been used to curb public displays of solidarity with Palestine, particularly amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

This is not the first such case. In 2023, a British pilgrim was reportedly detained after wearing a white keffiyeh and prayer beads in the colors of the Palestinian flag within the mosque precinct.

Broader Crackdown Allegations

Beyond the holy sites, rights groups have reported a broader clampdown on expressions of support for Palestine inside Saudi Arabia, including online activity. Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rose to prominence in 2017, international human rights organizations have documented an increase in arrests related to peaceful expression, particularly social media posts perceived as critical of the kingdom’s foreign policy or regional alliances.

As the conflict in Gaza continues, the detention in Makkah has intensified concerns among observers that public expressions of solidarity with Palestinians are increasingly being treated as criminal acts within the kingdom.

Saudi authorities maintain that their restrictions are applied uniformly and are aimed solely at preventing politicization of religious rituals.

Editor – Ray