Turns out you can now never again take selfies at assigned zones. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia just prohibited taking photographs and making recordings at Makkah, and Medina.
As per the Jakarta Post, the boycott was forced to keep individuals from taking pictures and making recordings at the two holiest Muslim places, Makkah's 'Masjid al-Haram', known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, and Medina's 'Masjid an Nabawi', or 'The Prophet's Mosque'
The Saudi selfie ban is not limited to selfies. All varieties of photographs and videos within the premises of the holy sites are now prohibited.
Following the ban, will the act of worship go back to being discrete when it comes to Hajj and Umrah?
The ban will prevent status updates on making visits to the two mosques, meaning matters will no longer be official on Instagram.
Security guards have been instructed to ‘confiscate the photos and the camera if needed’. The guards had never been the nicest towards people taking pictures, even in the past.
Saudi authorities assert the ban will;
“Prevent unnecessary disturbances for those who wish to worship without distractions.”
Here We Go Again
If news of a Saudi selfie ban on holy grounds sounds familiar that’s because it is. Previously in 2017 the Saudi government banned pilgrims from taking photos and videos at Makkah’s Grand Mosque and Masjid-i-Nabvi in Medina.
The ban extended to all sorts of footage using any devices for any purpose. This ban was imposed following backlash from Ben Tzion’s selfie at Masjid-i-Nabvi.
Russian-born Israeli Jew Ben Tzion posted a selfie of a visit to Masjid-i-Nabvi on Instagram. When the video went viral, certain right-wing religious factions were irked. Travel blogger Tzion later explained how he was there as a guest.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry announced the ban through a diplomatic note sent to foreign representatives in the country.
The Kingdom denied the ban had anything to do with Ben Tzion and claimed;
“The measure was imposed to protect and preserve two of Islam’s holiest sites, prevent the disturbance of worshipers and ensure tranquility while performing acts of worship.”
Source Pro Pak
