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The authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested a man who claimed that he traveled to Mecca to perform a umrah pilgrimage on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, who died last week, news agency AFP reported. The Yemeni national published on social media Monday a video clip of himself at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site that does not allow non-Muslims to enter.
In the clip, the man can be seen holding up a banner that says: “Umrah for the soul of Queen Elizabeth II, we ask God to accept her in heaven and among the righteous.” The video was widely shared on Saudi social media sites, sparking outrage among devout Muslims. Several Twitter users called for arrest of the man, who was not identified by name.
Saudi Arabia’s law bans from carrying banners or chanting slogans at Mecca. It is acceptable to perform an umrah on behalf of deceased people, but not if they are not Muslims. Queen Elizabeth II was supreme governor of the Church of England, which is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican communion.
Quoting a statement published by state media late Monday, the AFP report said security forces at the Mecca Grand Mosque “arrested a resident of Yemeni nationality who appeared in a video clip carrying a banner inside the Grand Mosque, violating the regulations and instructions for umrah” .
It added: “He was arrested, legal measures were taken against him and he was referred to the public prosecution.”
Television channels broadcast the news item, including the video clip, but blurred the banner. In the video, the white-and-gray marble complex of the Grand Mosque is visible behind the man from Yemen.
The umrah, which is different from the annual haj pilgrimage, can be undertaken at any time of the year.
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