Saudi authorities have arrested a man who claimed to have travelled to the holy city of Makkah to perform an Umrah pilgrimage on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
\nThe man, a Yemeni national, on Monday published a video clip of himself on social media at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Islam’s holiest site, where non-Muslims are forbidden.
\nIn the clip, he held up a banner saying: “Umrah for the soul of Queen Elizabeth II, we ask God to accept her in heaven and among the righteous.”
\nThe footage was widely circulated on Saudi social media, with Twitter users calling for the man’s arrest.
\nSaudi Arabia forbids pilgrims to Makkah from carrying banners or chanting slogans.
\nAnd while it is acceptable to perform Umrah on behalf of deceased Muslims, this does not apply to non-Muslims like the queen, who was supreme governor of the Church of England, the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
\nSecurity forces at the 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,” said a statement carried by state media late Monday.
\n“He was arrested, legal measures were taken against him and he was referred to the public prosecution.”
\nState television broadcast segments about the incident that included the controversial video clip, but with the banner blurred.
\nThe queen died on Thursday and her funeral is planned for September 19.
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