Guidance ministry condemns assault, arrest of pilgrim Fekrah al-Dubayani

The Ministry of Guidance, Hajj and Umrah Affairs on Sunday condemned the arrest and assault of the Yemeni pilgrim Fekrah al-Dhubyani by the Saudi police inside al-Haram campus.

The ministry stated that the Yemeni woman performing Umrah was harassed and insulted by a policewoman in the Grand Mosque in Mecca in which a security officer intervened and put his hand on her, in contrast, prompted her to defend herself so that the officers responded and assaulted her.

The statement denounced the Saudi regime’s arbitrary practices against women, which are a violation of all norms, morals, values and customs.

It called for the speedy release of the female pilgrim, preventing the recurrence of such incidents as well as the release of all absentees in its prisons.

The statement also condemned the Saudi regime’s continued closure of the land and air ports of the Sana’a government and the Supreme Political Council, which led to the recurrence of horrific incidents against Yemeni pilgrims.

It indicated that the occurrence of these incidents is the result of Saudi Arabia’s wrong policies in narrowing the ports and tightening procedures for Yemeni pilgrims and Umrah performers.

The Ministry’s statement also called on the Saudi regime to open the Hajj and Umrah window through the Sana’a government to prevent the practices of the mercenaries of aggression from extorting, detaining, arresting and fabricating arbitrary measures against pilgrims and to reduce pressure on al-Wadiah port, which is not sufficient to receive all pilgrims, especially when the Hajj season is just around the corner.

It also called on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take the initiative to open dealings with the government of Sana’a and to distance itself and sacred feelings from politicization and irresponsible practices.