Qatar did not mediate in Saudi Arabia’s lifting of Hajj ban on nation’s pilgrims
Yesterday, Saudi Arabia had decided to unblock its border with Qatar for use by Hajj pilgrims from the country.
The Saudi News Agency had reported that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud agreed to the opening of the border following a special meeting by Qatar’s envoy HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
However, Qatari sources have now refuted Saudi Arabia’s claims that the Saudi-Qatar land border was opened following a Qatari mediation.
Qatar Media Corporation Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani said his uncle, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, had visited Saudi Arabia ‘with the aim of resolving (some matters related to) personal belongings in Hail city of Saudi Arabia,’ reported Gulf Times.
He added on his Twitter account (@ahjh_althani) that ‘when he (Sheikh Abdullah) touched on the issue of Hajj obstacles, they (Saudi authorities) found it an opportunity to get out of their Hajj impasse and reverse the matter into an acceptance of mediation.’
On August 17, official Saudi media had reported that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud instructed to allow Qatari pilgrims enter Saudi Arabia through the Salwa land border.
