Saudi Gives Syria Opposition Right to Name Pilgrims
Saudi Arabia has decided to give Syria's opposition National Coalition the right to process applications of Syrians wishing to perform the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in autumn, an official said on Monday.
The kingdom handled last year's hajj visa applications without cooperating with Damascus.
But Riyadh has now decided that the opposition council is "entitled to issue hajj permits for the Syrians," hajj ministry spokesman Hatem Qadi told Agence France Presse.
He said Saudi authorities took the decision after a coalition delegation visited the hajj ministry.
This year's pilgrimage falls in October.
The move shows the kingdom's eagerness to give further legitimacy to Syria's opposition.
Last year, Damascus said Riyadh barred Syrian pilgrims from the hajj, claiming Saudi authorities did not sign the necessary accord.
But Saudi Arabia rejected the accusation, saying King Abdullah ordered consulates in countries neighboring Syria to facilitate visas for Syrians wishing to perform the hajj.
The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be performed at least once in a lifetime by those who are able to make the journey to Mecca.
Every Muslim country has a hajj quota of 1,000 pilgrims per million inhabitants.
Like many Arab countries, Saudi Arabia has cut ties with Syria's government and called on President Bashar Assad to leave power.
Source: Agence France Presse
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