Saudi Arabia has announced that it will open its land borders with Qatar to allow Qatari pilgrims access during the annual Hajj to Mecca, which will take place at the beginning of September this year.  This new development was preceded by border closures announced on June 5th after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt all cut political and economic ties with Qatar.  The Saudi Press Agency released in a statement that Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is allowing “the entry of Qatari pcouilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through Salwa border crossing to perform Hajj, and to allow all Qatari nationals who wish to enter for Hajj without electronic permits.”  While this is a step forward in improving diplomatic relations between the two nations, the crisis is still ongoing and far from over.

The four countries had earlier imposed economic sanctions on Qatar, accusing the Qataris of aiding terrorists and being too close to Iran.  According to BBC News, the land border closure has forced the country to use ocean and air means to import food for its population of 2.7 million.  All Qatari nationals were also asked to leave these four countries as part of the relations-severance.  While Qatar did not retaliate by placing similar restrictions on their four neighbours, they denied the accusation of aiding terrorist activities.  The Guardian reports that Qatar denounced the four Arab states’ action, calling it a “blockade” aimed at collapsing the emirate.

Last month, Saudi Arabia said they would allow the Qataris performing Hajj to enter the country, but imposed restrictions such as limited airline usage.  Now, the official statement says that the border will be open to those wishing to take part in the pilgrimage. Furthermore, King Salman has offered the Qatari pilgrims to complete their Hajj at his expense, ordering all airline-owned private jets to Doha airport and funding their use.

The Hajj is a five-day pilgrimage that starts and ends in Mecca, the holiest Muslim city, and is one of the five pillars of Islam.  All Muslims who are financially and physically able are mandated to perform it at least once in their lifetime.  The pilgrimage is a recreation of the path Prophet Muhammad once walked and those performing it enter a state known as ihram, in which they focus on the inner, spiritual self and reject materialism and other external pleasures.

Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) is satisfied with this decision, but remains wary of the true intentions and how the decision will be executed.  In a statement on Thursday, NHRC emphasized that “the Hajj cannot be used for political and personal calculations or mediations, rather, it is a right guaranteed by international agreements on Human Rights and Islamic law.”

Others are also criticizing Saudi Arabia for politicizing the Hajj.  Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that this decision was a “step forward,” but both the ban and the subsequent backtrack are “politically motivated.”  Al Jazeera reports that Qatari citizens are very critical of the Saudi move, voicing their views on Twitter.  One person tweeted, “There are no assurances that Qatar pilgrims will not be arrested on charges of terrorism or harassment.”  Another said, “Hajj takes place in the House of Allah and should not be traded by the Saudi government through this royal gesture of generosity.”

Although this gesture is one of goodwill, the regional disputes continue and toxic relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates persist.  No side can claim they are in the right.  While states must denounce terrorism, and take action against actors that are suspected of terrorist action or support, states must also not infringe on the religious rights of the people, specifically the religious right and duty to perform the Hajj.  Religious freedoms should not be politicized or used as a bargaining tool in diplomatic interactions.