Extremist cult of blackmailing scammers in charge of Mecca abruptly limits access to Hajj

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Specifically for Muslims from muh decadent West, no less.

So much for the spirit of common universal worship of God that changed Malcolm X's mind on the prospect of interracial solidarity.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I also do want to underscore that this is specifically to own Muslims from the Western world--not Muslims from Saudi Arabia's traditional enemies/rivals like Iran or Turkey or those of the Gulf states that hate it now. These are the people we're supposed to believe are better "allies" to the West than a hypothetical opening to Iran would get us. A reasonable argument can be made that trying to maneuver Iran into the diplomatic position that Saudi Arabia is in now would be more trouble than it's worth, but please let's not pretend the Saudis like or respect us. They don't.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

My parents have friends over, and this topic has come up. Everyone is pleased that prices this year are down several thousand dollars to $10,000 because the middlemen have been cut out.

It's actually very good to know that this isn't (or at least isn't universally) being received by ordinary Muslims as the dire power grab I've been seeing it reported as. Thanks.