SRINAGAR: Saudi Arab authorities have imposed a comprehensive ban on all photography and videography inside Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina for the 2026 Hajj season, prohibiting mobile phones, cameras, and other recording devices. According to media reports, the measure seeks to safeguard pilgrims’ privacy, preserve the sacred atmosphere, and facilitate smoother crowd flow during peak periods. This escalation of longstanding restrictions, reported widely on social media platforms including Instagram, applies strictly to worshippers and visitors alike, with violations potentially leading to confiscation of devices and legal penalties.
The prohibition, announced recently by Saudi officials, covers both indoor and outdoor areas of the two holiest mosques in Islam, building on prior guidelines from the Ministry of Hajj and the General Directorate of Press and Information. As per reports, the ban targets disruptions caused by selfie-taking and filming amid massive pilgrim gatherings.
Saudi Arabia first introduced photography curbs at these sites in 2017, when the Foreign Ministry banned photos and videos citing disturbances to worshippers, as reported by National Herald India. Subsequent reminders came from the Ministry of Hajj in 2024, urging pilgrims to avoid selfies. Earlier in June 2025, the Ministry of Interior extended similar rules to Hajj sites like Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, also prohibiting political chants and flags, according to The Islamic Information.
Authorities justify the policy as essential for maintaining spiritual focus and operational efficiency, with Instagram reels highlighting risks to crowd management during Hajj. The Cable reported in June 2025 that security personnel would enforce compliance, with penalties including expulsion or deportation for offenders.
Millions of Muslims planning Umrah or Hajj must now forgo personal recordings, a shift lamented on social media but defended as protective of collective worship.
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