Gazan pilgrim stranded at Jordan airport, turned away from Saudi, Egypt

Published today (updated) 29/10/2009 19:29

Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Rami Mahmoud Abdullah Abu Karsh has been stranded in Jordan's Amman airport for ten days after being refused entry in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, his family reported Thursday.

Abu Karsh left Gaza for the Umrah pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca over the summer and then flew to Jordan for minor medical treatment, his family said.

The Gazan then attempted to use his return ticket from Jordan back to Saudi Arabia but was refused a permit from that country. He then tried to switch his ticket to fly into Cairo so he could return to the Gaza Strip and be with his family.

His family said Abu Karsh learned he had been "banned from access to Cairo," and not provided with any alternatives for travel home.

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