SAUDI ARABIA REPLACES THE WORD “FOR MUSLIMS ONLY” ON THE INDICATIVE SIGNS TO ENTER MADINAH

Wed 05 May 2021:

Visitors to Medina usually receive a phrase “famous” in the middle of the warning signs in red warning sign with the text “for Muslims only”, in reference to tourists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prohibit crossing the boundaries of the civil sanctuary except for Muslims.

However, in light of the recent developments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the modern openness to the countries of the world, the phrase “for Muslims only” written on the indicative panels was replaced by the word “to the extent of the sanctuary”, which raised some questions on social networking sites.

Images have been shared on social media purporting to show that at least one of the highway signs now reads “Haram area” in reference to Madinah’s Haram or sacred site.

#Saudi 🇸🇦 abolishes the term “Muslims only” on all the road signs leading to #Medina, the second-holiest site in Islam after #Mecca & replace it with “To the Haram area”

Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the Nabawi Square, where The Prophet’s Mosque, the Haram, is located https://t.co/jXg1FwOWnT

— Saad Abedine 🤬😷🤟🏼 (@SaadAbedine) May 4, 2021

Many Saudi netizens have praised the new signs, claiming that it shows the ultra-conservative kingdom’s growing sense of tolerance towards non-Muslims, who are strictly prohibited from entering the vicinity of the holy sites. In Madinah, only Muslims are allowed within the Nabawi Square where the mosque is located.

🔴 #السعوديه #مكه #المدينة_المنورة 🔴
إظهارًا لسماحة الإسلام في معاملة غير المسلمين تم استبدال اللوحات الإرشادية بطرق #المدينة_المنورة التي كانت تحمل عبارة
( للمسلمين فقط ) بـ (إلى حد الحرم). pic.twitter.com/o4C760d59r

— زايد القريات . (@050wxs) May 4, 2021

Others have also argued that it may help to promote Saudi as a popular tourist destination aimed at people from different cultures and backgrounds – an aspiration of Saudi’s Vision 2030 programme initiated by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and which seeks to steer the country’s oil-based economy towards alternative industries, including tourism and information, communications and technology.

There has thus far not been any official explanation or statements related to the new highway signs.

The visitor must carry the “Muslim religion” in order to enter the Two Holy Mosques of Mecca and Medina. As for tourists from other religions, they must take another route away from the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.

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