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QNA
Doha
Limiting the transport of Qatari pilgrims for Hajj to Saudi Arabian Airlines planes is illogical and unprecedented, and contravenes the teachings of Islam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said.
In a statement on Monday, MoFA expressed its surprise over the announcement by Saudi Arabia to restrict the transfer of Qatari pilgrims to Saudi Arabian Airlines only.
MOFA's Information Office Director Ambassador HE Ahmed bin Saeed al Rumaihi said,"It is usual and customary for pilgrims from any country to be transported by their national carrier whether air, land and sea as well as by foreign carriers as part of the national mission of Hajj."
He pointed out that previous cases of diplomatic breakup between Saudi Arabia and other countries did not see transfer of pilgrims of those countries only by Saudi Arabian Airlines.
As for allowing Saudi Arabian Airlines to transfer Qatari pilgrims, he reiterated the content of the Civil Aviation Authority's statement on August 20 that coordination be held in this regard through the Hajj mission according to previous regulations so as to ensure the safety and security of Qatari pilgrims.
He stressed that Qatar and Qatari pilgrims don't need aid in terms of covering the cost of Hajj and portraying it as a charity, because charity has beneficiaries who need it more than Qatari pilgrims.
He said facilitating the performance of Hajj would be through an unconditional lifting of the siege on Qatar, which would go in line with the nature of this rite and comply with the teachings of Islam and international conventions ” enabling the Qatari Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs to steer the Qatari Hajj mission; and transporting Qatari pilgrims through the airline of their choice whether Qatar Airways or other airlines.
Rumaihi stressed the need to separate Hajj from the political differences between the states, not to hinder its performance by placing conditions that affect the sovereignty of states or the rights and dignity of their citizens, and stay away from exploiting it as a tool for political manipulation.
