Minister of Media Al-Awwad Rejects Politicization of Hajj

Makkah, MINA – Saudi Minister of Media Awwad Al-Awwad rejected categorically on Thursday any attempts to politicize Hajj or use it for purposes of disturbing this worship.

Awwad said that Saudi Arabia welcomes Muslims from various parts of the world to perform this religious ritual, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, UNA reported.

He was speaking to reporters during an inspection tour of the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah on Thursday. His tour covered offices of the Ministry of Media as well as Radio and Television Corporation and the Saudi Press Agency in addition to information centers in the holy sites.

The minister reviewed the special arrangements and preparations made to receive the local and global media, including print and electronic media to provide mechanisms and equipment and technologies for the coverage of Hajj.

Al-Awwad said the ministry has equipped several media centers in Makkah and the holy sites this year to serve its guests from journalists and media professionals within and outside the Kingdom, and provided them with all the services needed by the press, technology, communication networks, computers and studios.

The  minister said that the Kingdom is hosting more than 800 media professionals from outside the Kingdom to cover the Hajj rituals and highlight it in a professional manner commensurate with the status of this great rite. He also drew attention to the Kingdom’s efforts to host the great number of guests of God and facilitate their obligatory performance. As many as 151 media organizations, representing 27 global delegations, will cover the annual pilgrimage of Hajj in 10 languages, he added.(R/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj news Agency (MINA)