In a further escalation in tensions with Saudi Arabia, the Iranian government last 7th January banned its citizens from making the annual pilgrimage (“Hajj”) to Islam’s holiest city, Mecca, a journey required at least once in a lifetime for all Muslims financially and physically capable of doing so. Under ban also the shortened “version” of pilgrimage called “Umrah”, which can be undertaken at any time of the year and also several time.
The ban comes near the end of a tense week between the two rivals after Saudi Arabia – a predominantly Sunni country (despite the official sect of State is the “Wahhabi”) – executed a prominent Shiite cleric on Saturday 2nd January. Iran happens to be the most predominantly Shiite countries in the world. In the subsequent days, the two countries severed diplomatic relations, Iranian protestors attacked and set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran, and last 7th January Iran accused the Saudis of bombing its embassy in Yemen. The Iranian government also banned all Saudi imports at the same date.
About 600,000 Iranians contribute to Saudi Arabia’s $18 billion religious tourism industry each year, so the ban could impact the Saudi economy. The last time Iran stopped its citizens from making the Hajj was in 1987, after 400 Iranian pilgrims were killed by Saudi riot police during a demonstration by Iranian pilgrims asking the annihilation of the state of Israel.
Source article: Iranians are no longer allowed to make the pilgrimage to Mecca