Man is arrested under Saudi religious laws after dedicating his pilgrimage to Mecca to the late Queen and unveiling a banner in her honour
- The man claimed he had travelled to Mecca to pay tribute to the late monarch
- A video shows him in the Grand Mosque dedicating his pilgrimage to the Queen
- Police in Saudi Arabia arrested him after the footage sparked outrage online
- Visitors are banned from dedicating their pilgrimages to deceased non-Muslims
- Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing
A man has been arrested in Saudi Arabia after claiming that he had travelled to the Holy City of Mecca to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The man, from Yemen, had posted a video of himself on social media inside the courtyard of Mecca’s Grand Mosque, the holiest site in Islam, dedicating his Umrah pilgrimage to the late monarch.
Footage shows the man holding up a banner, which read in both English and Arabic: ‘Umrah for the soul of Queen Elizabeth II, may Allah grant her peace in heaven and accept her among the righteous.’
The clip was quickly shared online and gained attention sparking outrage among devout Muslims.
The man was later arrested by Saudi Police for ‘violating the regulations and instructions’ of the holy site.
A man has been arrested in Saudi Arabia after he posted a video inside the Grand Mosque (pictured) claiming that he had travelled to the Holy City of Mecca to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II
Footage shows the man (pictured) holding up a banner, which read in both English and Arabic: ‘Umrah for the soul of Queen Elizabeth II, may Allah grant her peace in heaven and accept her among the righteous’
Security forces then referred him to the public prosecutor to face charges.
In a statement, reported by Vice, the interior ministry of Saudi Arabia said: ‘The special forces of the security of the Grand Mosque arrested a resident of Yemeni nationality who appeared in a video clip carrying a banner inside the Grand Mosque, violating the regulations and guidelines for Umrah.’
The Grand Mosque is off-limits to non-Muslims.
Saudi Arabia also bans signs and political slogans from the sacred courtyard for fear of offending Islamic sensibilities.
Visitors are also banned from dedicating their pilgrimages to deceased non-Muslims, therefore, the man attributing his pilgrimage to the late Queen, who was the head of the Church of England, would have broken the rules.
The mosque’s white-and-grey marble complex is visible behind the Yemeni man.
Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, which can be performed at any time of the year.
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