Is it possible to travel to Mecca if you're not a Muslim.
How is it best accomplished? Have tried a couple of Saudi
Arabia sites on-line but the ones I hit are all
worthless ... lots of slow loading graphics and poor links.
thanks
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Apparently people have done by pretending to be muslim. But
I don't see the point because obviously you're offending
something sacred to Islam and that's the whole point of the
place being off-limits to non-muslims.
I think non-Muslims are allowed in the outskirts of Mecca,
like the suburbs or whatever, but they're not allowed into
the old city where the holy sites are. There are guards
everywhere, you can't get in. And even if you do, unless you
know every nuance of Islamic worship rites, you'll stand out
as a fake and you'll be hauled out of there...and probably
executed. I wouldn't try it.
Even if you managed to get a visa to Saudi, which is VERY
unlikely, as they do not give tourist visas and the rules
for other types of visas are very strict, you would not be
let into Mecca as a non-muslim. I agree with Kiwi that it
would be disrespectful to sneak in, even if you did manage
it (if you get caught, I think you would strongly dislike
the punishment!)
I was in Saudi a couple of months ago (on invitation from my
brother who works in Riyadh). Apparently, there is no way
for a non-muslim to get even close to either Mecca or
Medina. The Saudis have sealed off both places with
roadblocks and they are VERY rigorous about this.
If you want to go to Mecca, convert to Islam and join the
throngs that go there annually. Contact your local mosque
for information about changing your religion.
If you want to go to Mecca, convert to Islam and join the
throngs that go there annually. Contact your local mosque
for information about changing your religion.