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Flashback to 2011: “Explosives detectors to be installed at gates of Mecca’s Holy Mosque”

Jul 25, 2017 5:15 am By Robert Spencer

Israel is removing the metal detectors at the Temple Mount after murders and riots and lots of bellicose jihadist rhetoric, but this story from 2011 illustrates that not all metal detectors are outrageous provocations and attacks on Islam.

“Explosives detectors to be installed at gates of Mecca’s Holy Mosque,” by Riazat Butt, Guardian, August 15, 2011:

Explosives detectors are to be installed at the entrances to the Holy Mosque in Mecca as the Saudi authorities boost security around the city’s holy sites.

Around 180 people work on a shift pattern to man the gates leading to the Masjid al-Haram, which surrounds the Ka’aba, the black granite cube that Muslims turn to when praying.

But there are no other measures in place to screen pilgrims for weapons, explosive devices or other banned items, although there are more than 700 cameras tracking them for possible theft, pickpocketing and other criminal or immoral activity.

Lieutenant Colonel Fawaz al-Sahafi, who heads the security team at the mosque, told the Saudi Gazette plans to fit “sophisticated metal and explosive detectors” at the multiple gates were under way.

He also said there were proposals to monitor pilgrims’ movements and have plain-clothes officers mingling with worshippers to stop them from carrying unauthorised foodstuffs into the mosque.

Another security official, Lieutenant General Saeed Bin Abdullah al-Qahtani, said cameras at pilgrims’ residential buildings, traffic initiatives and crowd management plans would improve safety inside and outside the Grand Mosque….

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Filed Under: Featured, Israel, Saudi Arabia Tagged With: Holy Mosque


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Comments

  1. FYI says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 6:27 am

    So why do they need such detectors in mecca at all?

    In case some muslims get it all wrong and slay the believers instead.

    allah: I said “slay the UN-believers..the UNBELIEVERS.. NOT the believers..what the hell is wrong with you son?”

    jihadist: oh…erm…sorry ..I guess I misread the koran..maybe I’m dyslexic.

    allah:dyslexic
    jihadist:yeah whatever..haha..so I killed lots of completely innocent fellow muslims then..by mistake..

    allah:…..{long pause}……………..haha..you know I like the way you think son…I mean if you are going to slay the unbelievers I suppose you may as well throw in a few believers as well.

    jihadist;But allah isn’t it morally wrong to sanction murder-especially the murder of completely innocent people like the Coptic Christians?Isn’t there some Commandment somewhere that condemns murder..the Sixth I think?

    allah;the ..sixth…what now?Oh THAT-that only applies to the infidels,not to us muslims.
    Anyway that’s God’s law for the infidels..not mine…amazingly enough the need to obey those Commandments in their original unequivocated form don’t seem to apply to us..{sarc}it’s a complete mystery alright isn’t it?

    • manat bint allaha says

      Jul 25, 2017 at 9:37 am

      the mystery goes away if you consider god and allah as two separate entities.

      • mortimer says

        Jul 25, 2017 at 10:05 am

        FYI asked: “So why do they need such detectors in mecca at all?”

        Answer: ISLAMIC TERRORISM, that is the short answer.

        HYPOCRISY! HYPOCRISY! HYPOCRISY!

        If metal and bomb detection is required at MUSLIM SHRINES in Mecca, then metal and bomb detection is also required at the MUSLIM SHRINES in Jerusalem…and for exactly the same reason: to stop MUSLIM TERRORISTS FROM BLOWING UP MUSLIM SHRINES and KILLING PEOPLE who visit MUSLIM SHRINES.

        The real question is what is it in Islam that makes MUSLIMS want to blow up MUSLIM SHRINES???

    • Frank Cicero says

      Jul 26, 2017 at 9:42 pm

      Let’s hope the mecca detectors gets a short.

  2. kessler says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 7:31 am

    The majority of pilgrims are Sunni muslims. The 1400-year old Sunni/Shia religious war could probably find it’s way to Mecca.

    • john spielman says

      Jul 25, 2017 at 7:40 am

      hopefully ISIS will find its way to, and destroy that hideous idol- the kaaba

    • mortimer says

      Jul 25, 2017 at 10:12 am

      In 1979, Mohammed Abdullah al-Qahtani (a Sunnite Salafist) seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca to bring about a STRICTER form of Sunnite Islam to Soddy Barbaria.

  3. mgoldberg says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 7:46 am

    The issue is more basic and needs to be drilled down into for all.
    The reason the muslims, the arabs rage at the idea of Israel installing metal detectors has nothing to do
    with some idea of Israel taking over Al Aqsa. The reason for the homicidism is that muslims cannot understand why Israel would NOT want to take over Al Aqsa, since that is exactly what Islam teaches that muslims should want over the site, and Israel and the rest of the non muslim world.
    That is the reason- that muslims are taught just this; they are entitled to it, and should want it, so why wouldn’t jews, and Israel want it for themselves?
    That’s why they rage. That palestinians lie, is obvious, that the Waqf lies is obvious, but the rest of the muslims around the world support this even knowing what’s gone on with muslims stabbing the guards in the back, who were protecting the site.
    It is endemic to islam to think this way, and the reason again, is because that is exactly what they would do if they were in charge.

    • Steve Klein says

      Jul 25, 2017 at 9:57 am

      A couple of bulldozers on the Temple Mount level the site, what then?

  4. Charlie in NY says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 7:54 am

    Israel needs to play a long game in keeping Arab’s volatile emotions in check and hope that time wlil educate them and allow them eventually to shed their superstitions and hatred. In other words, move from their honor-shame society into a 21st century type of society in which individual responsibility overcomes “saving” face and honor.
    Additionally, until the West publicly has Israel’s back – instead of, for instance, the Pope’s spineless call for both sides to be moderate rather than pointing the finger at those Palestinian Arab leaders and imams responsible for the phony “al Aqsa is in danger” trope – there is no advantage to Israel in laying down red lines that the Arabs would use as an excuse for more violence and, perhaps, create a situation that is out of control. Bear in mind, that most of these people are motivated either by the idea that they immediately go to Heaven if they are killed or that their families will be taken care of financially by the PA (with Western dollars of course) and that their memories will be honored as holy martyrs. So, whether it’s a “spiritual” goal or a crass financial incentive (sort of like buying life insurance knowing you are going to commit suicide) that motivates them, it is a mindset that will be hard to shake. Passing the Taylor Force Act might be a good first step in the US. Having religious leaders speak out would be even better, but at the moment highly unlikely – especially as that “spiritual” goal is, as we know, based on a fairly mainline understanding of Islam.

  5. Baucent says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 8:15 am

    Yes, very interesting. I await with interest the Guardian newspaper putting questions to Palestinian Authority leader Abbas as to why metal detectors at Mecca are OK ,but not in Jerusalem.

  6. Scott says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 8:59 am

    There is also a significant aspect of Sharia law in play here – non-muslims are forbidden to have authority over muslims. Non-muslims today are referred to as “sweepers” in Pakistan (land of the pure). In other words, restricted to the most menial jobs.

    So the presence of Israeli guards viably acting in authority over muslims is infuriating of itself.

    Apparently throughout their history since initially leaving Mecca, muslims has always held the right to bear arms, lots of them, is an intrinsic right.

  7. mortimer says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 10:16 am

    The Israeli government should find out what METAL AND BOMB DETECTION SYSTEM is used in MECCA and then install EXACTLY THE SAME SYSTEM on Temple Mount.

    When the Pallies cry foul, the Israelis can say, ‘WHAT? Isn’t the system used in Mecca to protect pilgrims to Mecca not suitable to protect pilgrims on Temple Mount?’

    The metal detectors also protect MUSLIM PILGRIMS to Temple Mount from being BLOWN UP or stabbed.

  8. stan lee says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 12:38 pm

    I submit that “metal detectors” were not the issue, but the fact that Israel gave thought to reducing violence on the Temple Mount was. Had a Muslim suggested the same remedy to reduce or avoid violence at Temple Mount, I believe Israel would have concurred with that suggestion. But, the PA drives hate for Israel in any event, it’s how the PA exists. It cannot exist without hate for Jews. It’s a simple matter for the PA & Abbas to stoke the hate fires amongst a group of “stone-age” reacting people who can always turn to their imams or the koran itself, to hear or read for themselves that “hate” is what the PA Muslims must have for Jews. After all, that hate has been nursed for approximately 1400 years, hasn’t it?

    To a Muslim, such hate can’t be a mistake, especially if it was nursed along by Islam for fourteen centuries. What the Israelis were striving for was to stop the violence at the Temple Mount to assure that no firearms and explosives could be stored there. To the PA, it appears that the Temple Mount
    without an arsenal of weaponry would leave its worshipers practically unarmed, except for the knives they’re also fond of. So….now it will be “Explosives Detectors,” but if they’re electronically operated, the PA won’t surprise anyone if they will be suspicious of Explosives Detectors. Such substitute devices would be meant to prevent mayhem, death, and allow safe passage of worshipers. A good reason to have such devices in place, but then they may diminish the effects of jihadis. The PA can’t tolerate that!

  9. Voytek Gagalka says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 5:54 pm

    What is done BY and FOR Mohammedans is permissible; what is done by Jews to control somehow or stop Mohammedans’ “bad” behavior (jihad against non-believers) is apparently NOT permissible. What is or what is not permissible they have written (coded) in unchangeable sharia (Qur’an and Sunna of Mohammed). And what non-believers have? Flaky laws (regulations) which could be changed at moment’s notice according to their cowardly mood of uncertainty. No wonder Mohammedans are always victorious!

  10. abad says

    Jul 25, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    That “black granite cube” is nothing but an idol and no substitute for the real God, Lord Jesus Christ, Who was crucified, died, rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven. He is the One True Living God.

    Allah is a False deity.

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