caught in a web

Submitted by Rebecca Moulds (United States), Dec 18, 2007 at 10:13

Poor Mr. Nirosh Kamanda. I feel very sorry for him, even if he did lie to gain access to Mecca. In direct contrast to his story, I was once invited to visit Mecca by a Saudi family lawyer. He even gave me his phone number and his mother's number in Mecca, should I ever decide to go there.

I was flabbergasted, and told him that I thought, as a non-Muslim, I couldn't set foot in Mecca, and he said, "No problem, I will get you in." Either he had been smoking something or there are double standards in Saudi Arabia. I suspect the latter. I know all countries impose their own laws on their people and on tourists and visitors, but is there another country in the world that forbids anyone who is not of a certain faith, entry to a holy site? What is so special about Islam? Is there something secretive that we non-Muslims shouldn't know? The Muslim faith chooses to be insular. The Saudi government rules with an iron rod, and woe on anyone who dares to break the rules. Although Mr. Kamanda did trespass, I hope there are people in power trying to negotiate his freedom.

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