Despite being granted a visa, Islamic cleric Sheikh Gumi has been deported from Saudi Arabia and banned from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
He recently revealed that he was deported due to his views on world politics.
Speaking via his official Facebook page, Sheikh Gumi said that the authorities in Saudi Arabia did not want him present at Hajj, and he was immediately placed on a return flight to Nigeria.
According to him, he is more than grateful to the authorities in Nigeria, who have reached out and promised to engage Saudi officials for clarification.
“Due to some reasons related to my views on world politics, the authorities in Saudi Arabia do not want me to be present at Hajj even though they have granted me a visa
I am grateful to the authorities in Nigeria who have pledged to engage with the Saudi authorities on this matter,” he said.
The Kaduna-based cleric was reportedly stopped by immigration officials once he arrived in Saudi Arabia and was instantly denied entry into the city.
A NAHCON source, who wants to remain anonymous, broke down the incident, confirming that the commission was caught off guard as all delegates had valid visas and fulfilled the standard Hajj requirements.
Even though Saudi Arabia is yet to reveal their specific reason for banning Sheikh Gumi, observers have said that it might be connected to the Sheikh’s several outspoken political and religious decisions, including his initiation of dialogue with armed groups in Northern Nigeria and openly thrashing both Western and Middle Eastern political interventions.
The latest development has sparked debate among Nigerians online, with many pondering the extent to which political ideologies can impact one’s religious freedoms.
As of the time of breaking this news, both the Saudi embassy in Nigeria and the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have said nothing on the matter, and Sheikh Gumi has since resumed his duties as a Nigerian preacher and teacher.
