Statements of the President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş
President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş made a statement about the harm caused by Saudi Arabia’s practices to Turkish citizens who came to Mecca during the pilgrimage without a pilgrimage visa.
Erbaş Put an End to the Discussions
Ali Erbaş drew attention to the problems experienced last year regarding the “illegal” pilgrimage performed with visas other than the pilgrimage visa, and clarified the discussions on this issue. Answering the questions of journalists, Erbaş stated that they shared Saudi Arabia’s demands regarding the 2024 Hajj preparations with the public.
“Hajj Worship Cannot Be Performed with a Tourist Visa”
The President of Religious Affairs stated that they announced to the public their request that no one come without a Hajj visa, except for the 1 per thousand quota that Saudi Arabia grants to countries. Erbaş emphasized that the pilgrimage cannot be performed with a tourist or business visa and stated that the problems experienced in the past should be prevented.
Erbaş said, “Our job is only to announce the strict measures during the pilgrimage period. We do not have the authority to tell people who have a trade or travel visa, ‘Do not go to Arabia’. We only remind that the pilgrimage must “be performed within certain rules.”
“We did not complain about any of our citizens in Mecca”
Ali Erbaş also responded to the investigation regarding the problems experienced by Turkish citizens in Saudi Arabia. “We did not complain about any of our citizens in Mecca,” said Erbaş, adding that his speeches were distorted. He emphasized that they did not intervene in any way regarding the events taking place in Saudi Arabia and did not complain about any citizen.
