The overwhelming desire to "exploit" the Hajj season for political propaganda and party lies, and to "mobilize" support for issues concerning a specific faction, state, or regime, is nothing more than a new political and religious "innovation." However, the volume and tone of these voices fluctuate depending on the demands of political seasons, and this year, during the 2024 Hajj season, they are notably loud. We hear loud calls from Iran and the "Brotherhood," and their support from some aware individuals and many uninformed people, claiming that this season should be utilized to create momentum in favor of Iranian policies under the pretext of the sanctity of resistance (Arabic translation for Iran's policy of influence).
What is new this time is the attempt by some enthusiastic individuals to "enhance" and escalate this idea, including the call from Jordanian Brotherhood figure Raheel Gharaibeh to refrain from performing Hajj this year and to allocate the funds designated for Hajj to support "Gaza." It remains unclear whether he exempts the "Hamas" authority from these funds! Yet, a recurring theme is the intense Iranian desire to use the Hajj and visitation seasons to spread the doctrinal propaganda adopted by the regime and to exploit the gathering of Muslims from all walks of life to promote this propaganda among them.
Saudi Arabia's position has consistently been a firm rejection of such actions, asserting that Hajj is a season for pilgrimage... only. The Director of the Saudi General Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Bassami, emphasized two days ago that the safety of the homeland, pilgrims, and sacred sites is a "red line," indicating that Hajj security forces will stand firmly against any actions that disturb security or order and will prevent all activities that impact the safety and security of the guests of Allah.
This, as we said, is a steadfast Saudi policy dating back to the era of the founding King Abdulaziz and continues under King Salman bin Abdulaziz... the Servant of the Two Holy Mosques. The reality is that the recent historical record is filled with negative pages of Iranian exploitation, specifically by the regime and its Revolutionary Guard, of the Hajj season for the purpose of chaos and strife; who can forget the events of the Al-Mu'aisam tunnel in 1990 and the 1987 season among other painful incidents.
The rituals of "disavowal" were among the political innovations of Mr. Khomeini during Hajj, alongside the establishment of the "Dua Khomeini" and "Visitor Bulletin" events in both Mecca and Medina. This is not the place to elaborate on how these matters are merely political tools disguised in a "novel religious" appearance. This issue is not limited to the Khomeini Brotherhood; we also have the Brotherhood of al-Banna, who have a long history beginning with the meeting between guide Hassan al-Banna and Ayatollah Kashani, Khomeini's teacher, during a Hajj trip in 1367 AH (October 1948), through many seasons ending in the 2013 Hajj season, when followers of the Brotherhood congregated to raise the "Rabaa" slogan on Mount Arafat... and they were prevented from doing so. The Brotherhood is still "upset"!
In short, Saudi Arabia reiterates: now and forever, Hajj is a season for pilgrimage... only.
