Iranian Pilgrims Praise Hajj Services

Iranian pilgrim Tahereh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Iranian pilgrim Tahereh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Iranian Pilgrims Praise Hajj Services

Iranian pilgrim Tahereh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Iranian pilgrim Tahereh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Iranian pilgrims have praised the services provided during this year’s Hajj season as they participated in the stoning of the devil ritual in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

Following their prayers on the plains of Arafat, they experienced an atmosphere of faith and spirituality, supported by efficient services that made their rituals easy to perform.

Zahra, a 41-year-old pilgrim, praised the excellent organization, highlighting the ease of movement within the holy sites.

“Despite the large crowd of people from different cultures and ethnicities, everything was well managed, and the services were wonderful,” she said.

“This is my first time performing Hajj,” she revealed.

“It’s a new experience, and I hope to come again. I loved the city’s atmosphere, and it wasn’t far from Makkah. Everything was good,” she added.

Zahra also appreciated the friendly and welcoming interactions during the Hajj journey, describing the environment as “warm and hospitable.”

She also expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for organizing the Hajj, highlighting the challenge of managing pilgrims from various countries.

Shamima, 43, shared her happiness with Asharq Al-Awsat after performing the Hajj. She praised the numerous services that made the movements of pilgrims in holy sites comfortable and easy.

Speaking from the Jamarat site, she said: “The place and atmosphere are beautiful.”

“Everyone is throwing the stones without difficulty, thanks to excellent organization. I thank the Saudi government for the great services provided,” she added.

Tahereh, from Qom, Iran, expressed her indescribable joy at being in the holy sites. She noted the special feeling of seeing Muslims from around the world.

“The organization is exceptional,” she said.

“Groups are organized efficiently at the Jamarat site, with no crowding, making the stoning ritual easy and smooth. It is wonderful,” she added.

The movement of pilgrims between holy sites was smooth, with direct oversight from various security sectors managing vehicle and pedestrian routes according to plans.

This year’s Hajj season saw over 1.8 million pilgrims, according to Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.

More than 1.61 million pilgrims came from abroad, while over 221,000 were from within the Kingdom.



Saudi Ambassador Meets EU Ambassador to Lebanon

The two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments - SPA
The two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments - SPA
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Saudi Ambassador Meets EU Ambassador to Lebanon

The two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments - SPA
The two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments - SPA

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari met on Monday at his residence with European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as several issues of mutual interest.


Kuwait Court Orders Imprisonment of Former MPs, Including Musallam Al-Barrak

The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news". (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news". (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwait Court Orders Imprisonment of Former MPs, Including Musallam Al-Barrak

The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news". (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news". (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Kuwaiti Court of Cassation sentenced on Sunday a number of former MPs to prison, overturning the acquittals of 15 defendants, most of whom were former lawmakers in the dissolved National Assembly. The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news detrimental to the internal interests and stability of the nation."

The First Circuit of the Court of Cassation reversed the Court of Appeals' ruling that had suspended the sentence of former MP Muhannad Talal Al-Sayer, sentencing him again to three years in prison on charges related to contesting the rights of the Emir, interfering with his authorities, and spreading malicious news harmful to Kuwait's internal interests and stability.

The court also overturned the appellate ruling that suspended the sentence of former MP Saleh Mohammed Al-Mulla, ordering him to serve two years in prison for contesting the authorities and rights of the Emir.

It overturned the acquittal of former MPs Musallam Al-Barrak and Salem Al-Namlan, convicting them as repeat offenders and sentencing them to three years in prison for spreading malicious news detrimental to the country's interests.

It sentenced former MP Bader Al-Dahoum to one year of hard labor on charges of offending judges of the Constitutional Court.

The court also overturned the acquittals issued in favor of 15 defendants, finding them guilty while abstaining from pronouncing punishment on charges of spreading malicious news detrimental to the state's interests.

The rulings included former MPs Adel Al-Damkhi, Mohammed Mosaed Al-Dosari, Osama Al-Zaid, Shuaib Ali Shaban, Mohammed Abbas Jawhar Hayat, Madi Al-Hajri, Falah Al-Hajri, Hamad Al-Mudlej, Ali Radan Al-Otaibi, Mohammed Haif, Saoud Al-Hajri, Khaled Mounis Al-Otaibi, Nasser Mohammed Al-Mutairi, and Nami Harab Mohammed Awad Obeid.


MWL Condemns Israeli Statements on Displacement of Palestinian People

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
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MWL Condemns Israeli Statements on Displacement of Palestinian People

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned statements by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz concerning the displacement of the Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip, including proposed plans and mechanisms aimed at forcibly removing Palestinians from their land.

In a statement issued by the MWL General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa denounced the Israeli statements as unacceptable. He stressed that they come amid Israel's violations of international and humanitarian laws and norms in the occupied Palestinian territory and its undermining of peace efforts, the Saudi Press Agency said.

Al-Issa stressed the urgent need for the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities to bring an immediate end to all Israeli violations and attempts to impose a new demographic or geographic reality in the occupied Palestinian territory.

He also expressed strong support for the statement issued in this regard by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar, and Egypt.

He reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and steadfast support for their legitimate rights, including the right to establish an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the two-state solution and relevant international resolutions, as the only path to achieving a just and lasting peace in the region.

Ben-Gvir and Katz on Thursday outlined a seven-year plan for removing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip through what Ben-Gvir described as "voluntary emigration."