Activists Circulate Warnings of Martyr Sayyed Hussein Badr Eddine Al Houthi in Conjunction with Saudi Authorities’ Closure of the Great Mosque of Mecca

Activists on social media circulated texts from the lectures of the martyr leader Hussein Badr Eddine Al Houthi, who warned 18 years ago of American plans to target the pilgrimage, in conjunction with the Saudi authorities closing the Great Mosque of Mecca and holy sites in Mecca and Medina.

Pictures and recordings circulating on social media that showed the Haram al-Makki devoid of worshipers, which did not happen before. The Kaaba appeared in the courtyard of the mosque on a single white floor surrounded by plastic barriers alongside a group of Saudi security personnel.

Activists on Facebook reported the statement of Sayyed Hussein in the eighth lesson of Ramadan lessons in 1424 AH 2003, “Reducing the number of pilgrims, only a certain number of pilgrims is performed from every country, then raising the costs of Hajj is an American plan,” emphasising that it is to tame people to accept reducing the number of pilgrims from each country, a certain number which will be a number that can be reduced.

Activists cited Sayyed Hussein as saying, “Every year they reduce more, every year they do something regarding the Kaaba. They say: There has been an epidemic of overcrowding, so reduce the number, reduce the number until the pilgrimage becomes an issue that is not the focus of attention of Muslims or in the end they stop it.”

Saudi Arabia has banned Umrah pilgrimages to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina for Saudi citizens and the kingdom’s residents due to concerns over coronavirus.

“Based on the recommendations of the committee appointed to monitor coronavirus…it has been decided to suspend Umrah for citizens and residents in the kingdom,” The state-run SPA news agency said, citing an official source in the Saudi interior ministry.

Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year and is not considered compulsory.

The decision to restrict pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina come after Saudi Arabia suspended entry for foreigners intending to do Umrah and tourism from countries where the new coronavirus has spread.