Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs appears to have suspended registration for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, as diplomatic crisis drags on in the Persian Gulf region.

Al-Arabiya reported on Sunday that a message on their registration website indicated it was closed for the time being, saying that such move means that Doha has suspended registration for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.

Earlier on Saturday, a Doha-appointed human rights commission says Saudi Arabia has been “politicizing” the annual hajj pilgrimage through imposing restrictions on Qatari pilgrims travelling to the kingdom.

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) said in a statement on Saturday that under the Saudi restrictive measures, the Qataris were required to enter the kingdom only through two Qatari airports and via the capital, Doha.

The NHRC said it was “extremely concerned over [Riyadh] politicizing religious rituals and using [Hajj] to achieve political gains,” adding that “any Qatari citizen located outside Qatar must first return to Qatar then travel to Saudi Arabia” due to the new measures.

Source: Al-Arabiya