Saudi security personnel apprehended an Egyptian pilgrim in the Grand Mosque of Mecca on July 27, 2025, when he flew the Palestinian flag and cried out in despair at what had been done to Gaza. His peaceful protest—a simple cry for justice in one of Islam’s holiest sites—was met with immediate incarceration.
This is not a singular event. It is indicative of a broader pattern of authoritarianism, censorship, and state-authorized suppression of free expression in Saudi Arabia. And it is one more reason Saudi Arabia should not be permitted to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
In a global world where international sporting events should be based on human rights, Saudi Arabia’s continued repression of peaceful dissent and politicizing religion proves it lacks the moral and democratic need to organize an international event of its magnitude.
A Pilgrim’s Call for Gaza Suppressed within the House of God
As he set out for his pilgrimage to Mecca, the Egyptian man stood beside the Holy Kaaba holding a Palestinian flag and crying, pleading with the world to see the suffering of Gaza.
“The children of Gaza are dying. O Muslims!”
he cried.
“Wa Islamah!”
—a call from centuries past in Islam’s defense.
Instead of being met with either compassion or empathy, Saudi authorities were aggressive. In seconds, security forces apprehended him inside the mosque.
This very symbolic act of silencing a grieving Muslim at Islam’s holiest location globally has sparked common outrage on social media. It is also a savage warning: if a man can’t grieve genocide peacefully in Islam’s most sacred location, what hope for freedom of expression anywhere else in Saudi Arabia—especially at a politicized, global event like the World Cup?
Political Neutrality or State Control?
Saudi Arabia defends its intolerant policies by claiming that political symbols, slogans, and flags are not permitted in Mecca because that is necessary to uphold the sanctity of worship. But many Muslims around the world reply that to defend oppressed Palestinians is not a political act—it is a religious and moral duty.
Critics rightly accuse the Saudi regime of weaponizing religious sanctity to stifle solidarity with Palestine. This isn’t about preventing chaos or upholding spiritual purity—it’s about silencing dissent.
This authoritarian behavior mirrors Saudi Arabia’s domestic and foreign policies, where criticism, even when peaceful, is swiftly crushed.
FIFA’s Double Standards on Human Rights
FIFA claims to promote the ideals of human rights, freedom of expression, and equality. But by awarding Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup, FIFA is turning a blind eye to the kingdom’s brutal suppression of basic freedoms.
Qatar came in for criticism when it staged the 2022 World Cup for its treatment of migrant workers and its lack of civil freedoms. Saudi Arabia’s record is worse.
Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ascended to power, the state has imprisoned dissidents, murdered political opponents, silenced women activists, and declared criticism online an offense—even a retweet criticizing the government can land a citizen in jail for years.
The Mecca arrest is only the latest example of how the Saudi regime prioritizes having a good international reputation over actual reform, employing sport and entertainment events to divert the world from its repressive tendencies—a euphemism often used called sportswashing.
Saudi Arabia’s Track Record for Silencing Palestinian Solidarity
The suppression by Saudi Arabia of Palestinian solidarity extends far beyond Mecca. In recent years:
- A British pilgrim was detained for sporting a Palestinian-hued keffiyeh and prayer beads.
- Citizens have been arrested for comments against Israel or in support of Gaza.
- Citizens are tried for even oblique comments that question the Kingdom’s geopolitical ties, particularly its enhanced relationship with Egypt.
- This is evidence that Saudi Arabia is not a neutral or befitting environment for an event purporting to bring about unity, global culture, and human dignity.
- How are the world’s fans allowed to express themselves freely in a country where even passive symbols of solidarity are illegalized?
Freedom of Expression Is a Fundamental Value of the World Cup
The World Cup is not just a competition—it is an international forum that honors multiculturalism, unity, and the thrill of shared human experience.
Fans attend not just to watch football, but to publicly declare themselves, their values, and the causes that are close to their hearts—just as they did for Qatar 2022, when they wore rainbow armbands, displayed banners of repressed nations, and called for justice over borders.
Saudi Arabia’s contempt for public expression, as seen in the arrest of the Egyptian pilgrim, poses a grave danger to these values.
Imagine a world where a fan wearing a Palestinian jersey, an LGBTQ+ pin, or a protest tee gets arrested, deported, or worse—this is what FIFA is condoning by choosing Saudi Arabia.
Sportswashing Cannot Be the New Normal
Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing international sporting events: Formula 1, boxing matches, golf tournaments, and now the World Cup. None of these is an indication of a change in values, though—these are all such calculated public relations stunts designed to deflect attention from the regime’s horrible human rights record.
Sportswashing serves two purposes:
- To deflect international criticism of the Yemen war, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and repression within.
- Normalize relations with such regimes as Israel, and sanction local and religious expressions of solidarity with the Palestinians.
- The arrest of the Egyptian pilgrim was not an accident. It was an intentional declaration: compassion, too, must follow state policy, or else it will be choked out.
Say No To the Saudi FIFA World Cup 2034
The image of a man in Mecca weeping for Gaza, embracing a flag in trembling hands before being dragged away by state agents, should haunt the conscience of all human beings. His arrest is not only a domestic news item—it’s an international wake-up call.
If Saudi Arabia cannot tolerate a peaceful cry for help among its sacred walls, how can it expect to host the most diverse and expressive spectacle on earth? Boycott the FIFA World Cup 2034 in Saudi Arabia. Demand that FIFA remove Saudi Arabia from hosting duties. Give voice to the silenced.
We must oppose sportswashing and be with the oppressed. A football tournament should never be at the cost of freedom, dignity, and justice.