Israeli Journalist Fraudulently Enters Makkah During Hajj to Film Holy Sites
According to reports, an Israeli journalist broke Saudi Arabian law by entering sacred locations, defying the country's ban on non-Muslims entering Makkah, the holiest site in Islam, provoking online criticism and possibly jeopardizing relations between Tel Aviv and the Gulf states.
In a 10-minute report, journalist Gil Tamary was seen driving by the Masjid Al-Haram, the holiest mosque in Islam, and Jabal al-Rahmah, the site of the Holy Prophet's (PBUH) final sermon.
A local guide, whose face was obscured in the video, was said to have been with the journalist, according to the reports. In order to conceal his identity, he was also caught on camera mumbling in Hebrew and occasionally speaking in English.
The hashtag "A Jew in Makkah's Grand Mosque" later trended on Twitter, and Tamary was hailed as the first Jewish Israeli reporter to cover the annual Hajj pilgrimage exclusively. However, the news was sharply attacked on social media sites.
On July 19, Tamary apologised through Twitter and said that his intention was not to offend Muslims but rather to "promote more religious tolerance and inclusion" by highlighting the significance of Makkah and the beauty of Islam.
He claimed that he was motivated by a desire to allow people to "experience, for the first time, a site that is so essential to our Muslim brothers and sisters, and to human history," and that "inquisitiveness is at the heart and centre of journalism."
Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter Makkah or visit holy places according to Saudi legislation, and those who do so risk fines or deportation.
This episode was not covered by the tightly controlled Saudi media, and it is now unknown whether Tamary obtained authorization from the authorities to enter Makkah.
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