Pilgrims told to avoid ‘too many selfies’ at Kaaba

Saudi Arabia has started receiving pilgrims for Hajj 2023.

The Religious Affairs Ministry’s Hajj pilgrimage organizing committee (PPIH) has appealed to Hajj pilgrims to not take too many selfies in front of the Kaaba, Tempo.co reported.

“Taking too many selfies in front of the Kaaba will disrupt the solemnity of your rituals as well as of the other pilgrims’ (rituals),” Central PPIH spokesperson Akhmad Fauzin said at a press conference on Hajj pilgrimage implementation in Jakarta on Monday.

He also outlined a number of strict prohibitions that Hajj pilgrims in the area of the Grand Mosque will need to pay close attention to, including unfurling banners to take group photos and taking selfies in front of the Kaaba with objects resembling humans.

The Saudi Arabian security authorities will impose sanctions on those found violating the applicable prohibitions, he added.

“With that in mind, the committee is constantly reminding pilgrims to maintain focus on the Hajj ritual during their stay in the Holy Land, particularly during activities at the Grand Mosque. Please refrain from doing too many activities unrelated to worship,” Fauzin said.

In addition, the PPIH appealed to the Hajj pilgrims, especially those belonging to the elderly group, to limit activities outside hotels and mosques, as temperatures in Medina and Mecca are currently reaching 30–30 degrees and 31–34 degrees Celsius, respectively.