Claim
X users have claimed that Saudi Arabia banned Imams from offering prayers for Palestine.
Verdict
This claim is FALSE. Showing its continuous support for Palestine, on 27 September, Saudi Arabia launched a new international initiative aimed at securing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Full Text
X users have claimed that Saudi Arabia banned Imams from praying for Palestine or even mentioning it in their sermons in Saudi mosques.
@TimesAlgebraIND also claimed that Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman said he personally DOESN’T CARE about Palestinian issue.
This post generated over 5 million views and more than 4k reposts as of Sunday morning.
Another X user, @HarshitMishra wrote, “Saudi Arabia has officially prohibited Imams from offering prayers for Palestine or even mentioning the Palestinian issue during their sermons in mosques across the kingdom. This move reflects a significant shift in Saudi policy toward the Palestinian cause, with direct instructions being issued to religious leaders to avoid any discussion related to Palestine in their religious discourse.
InstaBlog in Nigeria also published this claim on Saturday.
Verification
First, no credible international news organization confirmed that this claim is true after a thorough search by FACTWATCH.
This is an indication that this claim might be false.
On 27 September, showing its continuos support for Palestine, Saudi Arabia launched a new international initiative aimed at securing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and advancing the stalled two-state solution to resolve the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict.
The move comes as violence continues to escalate in Gaza, and diplomatic efforts worldwide remain strained.
The initiative, dubbed the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, was unveiled by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at a high-level meeting attended by representatives from the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and European nations, including Norway. The first meeting of the alliance is set to be held in Riyadh, with subsequent sessions planned for Brussels and other global cities.
“We are committed to working towards a reliable and irreversible plan for achieving just and comprehensive peace,” Prince Faisal stated during his speech. “It is imperative for the international community to come together to reach tangible results, including securing an immediate ceasefire and progressing towards a two-state solution.”
The initiative follows the deadly October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which left nearly 1,200 people dead and led to Israel launching a wave of retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza. The conflict has pushed the region closer to the brink of war, with hundreds of hostages reportedly taken to Gaza and large-scale humanitarian crises emerging as a result.
Check similar publications that corroborated this report Here and Here.
On 19 September, New York Times reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia declared that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel before the “establishment of a Palestinian state,” an apparent hardening of his position on an issue that could reshape the diplomatic map of the Middle East.
Conclusion
The claim that Saudi Arabia banned Imams from offering prayers for Palestine can’t confirmed to be true anywhere.
Credit: FactWatch
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