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QNA
Doha
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) has condemned Saudi Arabia's media for claiming that Qatar had suspended Hajj registrations for Qatari nationals.
The ministry said on Sunday it was a fabricated news that meant to set obstacles for the Qatar's Hajj pilgrims.
Awqaf said Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had refused to communicate regarding the safety and security of Qatari pilgrims and facilitating their Hajj. It said the issue is in the hands of the Saudi authorities.
Director of Hajj and Umrah Department at Awqaf Ali Sultan al Misifry said the department had started the registration for Hajj in March as per usual practice, and closed it in the same month, as done each year to complete the usual procedures.
Misifry said the total number of registration for Hajj pilgrimage reached 20,000.
However, when the Saudi ministry refused to communicate and provide safety guarantees led to confusion over the Hajj campaigns. Pilgrims from Qatar have faced unjustified obstacles and harassments.
Awqaf expressed its regret over politicisation of a religious tradition, which is one of the pillars of Islam.
Meanwhile, Qatar's Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani said no statement was issued by any Qatari official regarding the internationalisation of Hajj, and that no action was taken to consider the issue of Hajj as an international issue.
He stressed that Qatar did not politicise the pilgrimage."We are fed up with responding to the media and inventing stories from nothing," he said.
