Arab American pilgrims waiting for the bus outside the tent area in Mina after being assaulted.

DEARBORN — A coalition of 28 American Muslim organizations signed a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens who will be performing the Islamic pilgrimage, the Hajj, in Saudi Arabia in October. The letter was sparked by the assault on pilgrims from Metro Detroit by sectarian extremists last year.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every capable Muslim is religiously commanded to perform Hajj at least once in his or her lifetime. More than 1 million Muslims gather in Mecca every year for Hajj during the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Duh al-Hijja.

The Arab American News reported last year that a group of local Hajjis was attacked on October 14 in Mina by Australian nationals for being Shi’a. The attackers physically assaulted one man, trying to strangle him, called the pilgrims “kafir” (infidel) and threatened to kill the men and rape the women in the group, according to community activist Suehaila Amen.

“As a US Citizen who was directly harassed during the attack in Hajj 2013, I feel the State Department could have been more responsive to the situation, whether in reply to our calls or to condemn the attacks and inactions of the Saudi government,” Amen told The Arab American News. “As we frantically fled Mina and sat, in fear, waiting for our buses to pick us up, we were making calls to government representatives, the embassy and contacts in the U.S.”  

She added that the response of Saudi security forces, who “turned their backs” on the pilgrims as they were being attacked, was equally upsetting. “We also witnessed in awe as Saudi law enforcement officials deleted photos and video footage on the phones of several pilgrims that showed the attack and faces of the thugs to give confirmation to the claims,” she said. “It is shameful that we have to beseech our government to stand up for its citizens, in the U.S. and while traveling abroad. We are told to register our travels with the State Department, though what is the purpose in doing so when it fails to respond or protect its citizens, as we saw occur in Lebanon during the summer war of 2006 with Israel.”

She added that the lives of 150 Americans in Mina were in jeopardy because of their religious beliefs.

“As U.S. citizens, it is expected that our home country protect us, hear our distresses and respond in an appropriate manner that shows it is mindful of our needs and concerns, as human beings and citizens of this nation,” she said.

Muslim Advocates, a national legal advocacy and educational organization based in San Francisco, coordinated the efforts between the groups to craft the letter. 

“We, the undersigned American Muslim organizations, write to express our deep concern regarding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s failure to ensure the safety and security of American citizens performing religious pilgrimage and the implications this has on religious freedom,” the letter to Kerry states. “We urge you to take immediate action to protect American citizens who travel overseas to perform one of the five mandatory acts of their faith and ensure that Saudi Arabia addresses this urgent security matter in preparation for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage in early October.”

The letter describes the U.S. Embassy’s failure to respond to the pilgrim’s concerns as “disturbing.”

Notable organizations, including American Muslim Advisory Council, American Muslim Voice, Arab American Association of New York, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Michigan Muslim Community Council and the New England Muslim Bar Association, signed the letter.

“All Americans should feel protected by their government, especially when they are performing their religious freedom,” said Mohamed Sabur, Muslim Advocates charities program director.

Sabur added that the Muslim organizations are requesting that Kerry use existing diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

“We ultimately demand assurance that the State Department will have the backs of those travelers this year and in the future,” Sabur said. “We want to make sure that the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia will be responsive and come to the aid of the Hajjis immediately if they are in jeopardy.”

Sabur said the request for protection is backed by Muslim organizations of different sects and backgrounds.

He told The Arab American News that the breadth of the coalition, which includes traditional faith institutions, civil rights organizations and humanitarian aid groups, indicates that safety concerns during Hajj are essential to all Muslims in the United States.

“This is an issue that’s important to everyone,” he said. “Hajj is a once in a lifetime journey. It cuts across ethnic or sectarian lines.”