Monday, Aug 21, 2017

Dubai: Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa has lashed out at Qatar for not going along with Saudi initiatives to facilitate the Haj process for Qatari pilgrims.

“Qatar is not only hindering its people from performing Haj under various allegations. It is also claiming that the officials in charge of Haj in Saudi Arabia are the ones who have been setting up obstacles and hurdles. Obviously, there is no limit to exploitation and abuse,” Shaikh Khalid posted on his Twitter account.

The minister said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has had good intentions since the start of the Qatar crisis to exempt Qatari pilgrims from all bans and restrictions.

“However, his intentions were met with escapism, exploitation and abuse,” he posted to 421,220 followers on the social microblog.

“We are not evil people and we do not concoct abuses; however, any abuse of Saudi Arabia is an insult to Bahrain that we do not accept and to which we will vigoursly respond to. He who starts the fight is the belligerent.”

Shaikh Khalid posted his comments following news that Saudi planes had not been given the go-ahead to land in Doha and transport Qatari pilgrims as pledged by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz last week.

The Saudi monarch, responding to a mediation effort by Qatari Shaikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani, ordered the re-opening of the Salwa crossing border to allow Qataris to drive into the kingdom.

The border had been closed since June 5 when Saudi Arabia cut its diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar.

King Salman also ordered that Qatari nationals could fly from the airports of Ahsa and Dammam in the Eastern Province to Jeddah, 70 kilometres from Makkah where the annual Haj rituals are held.

The king also offered to transport Qatari pilgrims from Doha airport at his own expenses to perform Haj.

However, late on Sunday, Saudi Arabia said no permission had been yet granted to its aircraft to land in Doha and transport pilgrims.

The six-day Haj season is expected to start on August 30.

By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief

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