Syrian Civilians Forced To Skip 2012 Hajj By Saudi Regime

Syrian Muslims will have to skip the annual pilgrimage to Mecca this year due to a conflict between their government and Saudi Arabia. The Syrian side carried out all the required procedures for pilgrimage season, which is scheduled to begin next month, but Saudi authorities failed to agree on details on time, Syria's SANA state news agency reports. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated badly over the Syrian civil war as Saudi Arabia backs the rebellion seeking the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad's government.