Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh

Riyadh, May 29: Iranian cleric Gholamreza Ghasemian, who was arrested during the Hajj pilgrimage for his criticism of Saudi Arabia, has been released and is en route back to Iran, Iranian news agency ISNA reported on Thursday.

Ghasemian was detained on Monday in Mecca after a video of him went viral online. In it, he denounced recent changes in Saudi society, accusing the kingdom—without naming it directly—of turning the Qibla, Islam's holiest direction, into "a place for gambling houses, centres of debauchery, and obscene concerts." His remarks were seen as a pointed critique of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's social liberalisation policies.

Following his arrest, Iranian officials engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure his release. On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the detention, saying on social media platform X that Iran “will not tolerate actions that threaten Muslim unity, especially during the sacred atmosphere of Hajj.” He also reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to maintaining stable relations with neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia.

Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir also criticized the arrest, calling it "unjustified and unlawful" and suggesting it infringed on freedom of religious expression.

The incident has heightened tensions between Tehran and Riyadh, which have only recently begun to normalize ties. According to IranWire, in the wake of the controversy, Saudi Arabia has suspended the issuance of Hajj visas for Iranian pilgrims, casting uncertainty over the participation of Iranian citizens in this year’s pilgrimage.