69 million page views

Mecca Visit by non-Muslims

Reader comment on item: A Christian Caught in Mecca; What Fate Awaits Him?

Submitted by Ramesh (Saudi Arabia), Mar 19, 2011 at 18:43

I once drove from Taif to Jeddah and by mistake entered Mecca, which is forbidden for me as I am a Hindu. Infact there were 5 check posts and at each check post they let me in without any checking and without any guidance. Since I had some doubt about the place, I stopped in a Bakala (small supermarket) and asked an Indian man who was there. Believe me, there was a Saudi man also in the shop and both of them told that if by mistake it should not be punished and guided me to take a narrow road that goes through mountains and leads outside the Mecca area. I phoned my friends (Indian Muslims) and told them that I am in Mecca and in the event i am questioned, they should at least come to identify me.

Fortunately, I got out of Mecca without anyone stopping or questioning me and I got my confidence back. I am not sure what they would have done if i am found inside Mecca. I was happy i could go to Mecca even by mistaking the road, when such an opportunity can only be in the dreams of many Muslims but fear overtook this feeling soon. This happened in 2008.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Comment on this item

Mark my comment as a response to Mecca Visit by non-Muslims by Ramesh

Email me if someone replies to my comment

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

See recent outstanding comments.

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2023 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)