IranSaudi Arabia

Iranians protest at sexual abuse of teens in Saudi city of Jeddah

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A group of Iranians have gathered in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran in protest over the sexual abuse of two teenage Iranian pilgrims by Saudi officers at Jeddah airport.

During their demonstration on Saturday, the protesters chanted anti-Saudi slogans and called for closure of the Saudi embassy as well as cancellation of Umrah hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The demonstrators also said the sexual criminals must be brought to justice immediately.

While performing body search on passengers at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi officers reportedly took two Iranian teenagers, aged 14 and 15, away, citing suspicion. The officers, who had sounded off the alarm at the gate, subjected the teenagers to indecent acts.

Following the incident, Iran summoned the Saudi chargé d’affaires and submitted a note of complaint to the Saudi government.

“Immediately after being informed of the immoral act, the Iranian Foreign Ministry followed up on the matter with seriousness and our colleagues in Jeddah arrived at the city’s airport after being notified and investigated the matter with senior airport authorities in attendance,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Wednesday.

Afkham added that Saudi authorities had voiced disgust at the abuse and said the culprits would face religious and legal punishment.

Saudi Arabia says it has arrested the two officers who sexually harassed the teenagers.

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