Chairman of the International Union of Resistance Scholars:

The remarks of the Saudi Minister of Endowment couldn’t have been made by himself

Rasa – In response to statements made by the Saudi Minister of Minister of Islamic Affairs in regard to the Zionist regime, Shaykh Maher Hammoud stated that these statements belong to someone else and he only expressed them.

News ID: 439191

Date: 24 August 2018 - 20:09

RNA – Speaking in an interview with Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen satellite channel, Shaykh Maher Hammoud, the chairman of the International Union of Resistance Scholars, said that the statements broadcast by the Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, Abdul-Latif ibn Abdul-Malik Al Shaykh, could not have been made by him but rather, he only expressed them.

The Lebanese Sunni scholar said that a large segment of the Arab and Muslim worlds are aware of Saudi Arabia’s role in normalization of relations with the Israeli enemies. It is clear what Saudi Arabia has done in Yemen and in Syria and what they are doing in the region in general.

He warned about the dangerous steps taken to normalize relations with the Zionist regime.

On August 21st, in a video shared widely online, Al Shaykh compared the Zionist regime with the Qatari government by praising Israel for “allowing” its Muslim citizens to go on this year’s Hajj pilgrimage and claimed that Israel didn’t prevent anyone from performing the pilgrimage, which must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.

With such an usual statement, the Saudi Minister implied that the Qatari government prevented its citizens from travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj because of tensions between the two Gulf states.

“What has caused some surprise is that the state of Israel, which we know a lot about, did not prevent Muslim pilgrims from coming to Saudi Arabia to perform the pilgrimage.”

– Abdul-Latif ibn Abdul-Malik Al Shaykh

Al Shaykh claimed that Qatar is preventing its nationals from traveling to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj. However, Doha accuses Riyadh of impeding the travel of Qatari pilgrims.

Travel agencies in Qatar have announced that Riyadh has blocked blocking registration links for Qatari pilgrims to register for the Hajj.

But three travel agencies in Doha told Reuters they had stopped trying to sell Hajj packages, which can cost as much as $33,000.

Rasa News Agency

112/977