MAKKAH, 26 January 2005 — Over 60 Iraqi pilgrims took to the streets in Shisha district here just before Maghreb prayers yesterday, demanding to be returned home to Iraq in time for the elections set for Feb. 2. The pilgrims were angered by what they say is incompetence on the part of the Iraqi Haj organizers which will prevent 13,000 Iraqi pilgrims from casting votes in the upcoming elections.
“We represent 13,000 Sunni and Shiite Iraqi men and women here for Haj from every part of Iraq. We were scheduled to leave this week, but now we’re told that our return flights will be delayed until as late as Feb. 6,” one man told Arab News.
The group, comprising men and women, was led by Laith Al-Haidari. They marched from their primary residence, Building Nos 107 & 108 in the Aziziyah district, to the Iraqi pilgrim delegation headquarters across from the Ashour Hotel in Shisha. As they walked, more than a dozen men and women carried signs stating, “If we are not counted now, when will we ever be heard?” Others carried signs that said: “In order to be freed from occupation and to secure the future of our children, we all must vote.”
When the protesters arrived at the Iraqi delegation’s headquarters, security guards immediately locked the doors thereby preventing their entrance. Only Al-Haidari and two of his assistants were allowed in to speak to the Iraqi Haj organizers. Members of the media were also denied entry to the meeting.
“We are maybe 70 people here, but behind us are thousands of other Iraqis who are stuck here and want to go home and take part in the elections. We are all being deprived of taking part in what is now our right. We ask the Saudi authorities to help us in getting back in time for elections.”
At the conclusion of Al-Haidari’s meeting with the Iraqi pilgrim’s delegation representatives, he came down and announced to the crowd that he was advised to contact Prime Minister Iyad Alawi as he is the only one who can help. This initially led to some confusion among the crowd who interpreted what Al-Haidari said as confirmation that the Iraqi government was intentionally preventing these pilgrims from voting.
However, a clarification was made by Karim Sabhan who explained: “Prime Minister Allawi stated that these elections should not go on unless every Iraqi can cast his vote. Since Iraq isn’t going to delay the elections for us, perhaps the Iraqi government can make arrangements for us to return home to vote. So far the Iraqi Haj organizers have told us that they will provide us with extra food and water to make us more comfortable during our extended stay.”
