Following online criticism of an Israeli journalist, police in the kingdom said on Friday that a Saudi who is accused of assisting a non-Muslim in entering the holy city of Makkah has been arrested.
In violation of a restriction on non-Muslims, the journalist Gil Tamary of Israel’s Channel 13 released a video to Twitter on Monday showing himself sneaking into Makkah, the holiest city in Islam.
According to a police spokeswoman quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency, the Makkah regional police have “referred a citizen” to prosecutors for alleged involvement in “transferring and aiding the arrival of a (non-Muslim) journalist.”
ALSO READ:
ISRAELI JOURNALIST SNEAKS INTO MAKKAH TRIGGERING ONLINE BACKLASH
The journalist, who is an American citizen, has also had his case forwarded to prosecutors so they may “take the required proceedings against him in line with the relevant laws,” according to SPA, which did not give the journalist’s identity.
In his approximately ten-minute video, Tamary travels to Mount Arafat, where robed Muslim pilgrims gather each year to pray at the culmination of the Hajj trip.
He mentions that he is aware his actions are illegal, but yet claims he did it to highlight “a site that is so significant to our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
