Non-Muslim Overstayer Arrested in Mecca

[JODO 2]

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&sectio...ategory=Kingdom

Monday, 21, May, 2007 (04, Jumada al-Ula, 1428)

Non-Muslim Overstayer Arrested in Makkah

Zainy Abbas, Arab News —

MAKKAH, 21 May 2007 — A Sri Lankan Christian was arrested in the holy city of Makkah, which is off-limits to non-Muslims, by the Expatriates Monitoring Committee in Makkah.

The authorities were able to verify the identity of the man, who had claimed he had overstayed his Umrah visa, by running his details through a new fingerprints system.

Nirosh Kamanda had arrived in Dammam to work as a lorry driver and had fled his sponsor to sell goods besides the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The man's sponsor denied he knew where the man was working.

He said, "He fled six months after coming to the Kingdom. I have no idea how he reached Makkah."

After his identity became known, the man admitted he was Christian and that he had come to Makkah to earn money. "I heard that Makkah is a safe place, where I could hide my identity," he said.

Col. Suhail Matrafi, head of the department in charge of Expatriates Affairs in Makkah, compiled a report about the case and presented it to Col. Ayid ibn Taghalib Al-Lukmani, the head of Makkah's Passport Department. Al-Lukmani has ordered the man be sent to Jeddah.

"The Grand Mosque and the holy city are forbidden to non-Muslims," said Matrafi

Edited May 22, 2007 by JODO

[mawilson 2,133]

"The Grand Mosque and the holy city are forbidden to non-Muslims," said Matrafi

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

"The Grand Mosque and the holy city are forbidden to non-Muslims," said Matrafi

So intolerant. It's scary.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Let's see:

• Mecca is sacred to Islam because its founder (Muhamad) was born there
  
• Since Muhamad was the founder, only non-Muslims lived there (duh!) till he established it
  
• So why are they forbidden now?
  

[tom&tata 2]

Let's see:

• Mecca is sacred to Islam because its founder (Muhamad) was born there
  
• Since Muhamad was the founder, only non-Muslims lived there (duh!) till he established it
  
• So why are they forbidden now?
  

Probably it is the law ?

Just like the US was welcoming to immigrants (there was no illegal term that time) and now there is illegal immigrants.

Edited May 22, 2007 by tom&tata

[pedroh 21]

"The Grand Mosque and the holy city are forbidden to non-Muslims," said Matrafi

:lol: :lol:

LOL indeed.. forbidden?? #######..

[Dr_LHA 3]

"The Grand Mosque and the holy city are forbidden to non-Muslims," said Matrafi

So intolerant. It's scary.

It's their country, they can forbid anything they want.

[mawilson 2,133]

It's their country, they can forbid anything they want.

They can keep the damn thing.

[JODO 2]

It's their country, they can forbid anything they want.

They can keep the damn thing.

[Zee Bee 61]

Oy.

Thank you Saudi Arabia for reaffirming the belief that Muslims are intolerant of non-Muslims.

Geez.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

"The Grand Mosque and the holy city are forbidden to non-Muslims," said Matrafi

So intolerant. It's scary.

It's their country, they can forbid anything they want.

Of course they can. I can also think they are a backwards, intolerant, medieval ####-hole.