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Mourners carry the coffin of the late former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali during his funeral at the Prophet Mohammed's mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Medina, Islam's second holiest city, on September 21, 2019. (Majed Al Charfi / AFP)
September 21, 2019, 8:16 pm
Tunisia ex-president Ben Ali buried in Medina
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, 83, was first leader to be toppled by Arab Spring, viewed as bulwark against Islamist extremism, but muzzled opposition and shunned democracy
By AFP
Protestors hold pictures of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 5, 2018. (AFP/ OZAN KOSE)
October 20, 2018, 4:11 am
Khashoggi: From Saudi royal insider to open critic
Conflicting descriptions have pegged journalist as a Muslim Brotherhood sympathizer, an aide to the monarchy, a critic of the regime, a liberal, and even a friend of Bin Laden
By AFP
Saudi passengers walk on the platform at Mecca's train station on October 11, 2018 as the new high-speed railway line linking Mecca and Medina opens. (Bandar Aldandani/AFP)
October 11, 2018, 5:51 pm
Saudi Arabia opens high-speed railway from Mecca to Medina
$16 billion rail project connecting Islam’s holy cities part of new infrastructure focus as Riyadh seeks to diversify away from oil
By AFP
A tweeted composite picture that shows, at left, a picture of Israeli Jew Ben Tzion (wearing green) inside the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, and at right, the Saudi royal family with the words, "the cursed Saudi tree." (Twitter)
November 22, 2017, 2:30 pm
Israeli Jew’s ‘peace visit’ to Saudi mosque sparks Arabic Twitter storm
Though he said he felt welcome and stressed he visited in a private capacity, many protest Ben Tzion’s visit to Medina, see it as ostensible sign of warming Saudi-Israel ties
By Dov Lieber
Ben Tzion at the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, Saudi Arabia (courtesy)
November 21, 2017, 2:51 pm
From Qom to Medina: Israeli Jew visits holy sites across Muslim world
Some in Arab social media fume after Ben Tzion posts photos of himself sporting Hebrew letters in Saudi Arabia’s Mosque of the Prophet. I come as ‘a friend,’ he stresses
By Raphael Ahren
People stand by an explosion site in Medina, Saudi Arabia, Monday, July 4, 2016. (Courtesy of Noor Punasiya via AP)
July 4, 2016, 9:34 pm
Suicide bomber kills 4 at holy site in Saudi Arabia
Blast at Prophet’s Mosque in Medina wounds five others; a second bomber attacks Shiite mosque in eastern city of Qatif
By Agencies and TOI staff
Mohamad Jebara
June 14, 2016, 12:43 pm
Mohamad Jebara
Myth of the Medina Massacre
Debunking the tale of a 7th century mass killing often used by Islamic extremists to justify murdering Jews
Muslim pilgrims pray outside Namira mosque in Arafat, on the second and most significant day of the annual hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, September 23, 2015. (AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
May 29, 2016, 4:54 pm
As citizens set to miss hajj, Iran says Saudi Arabia ‘blocking path to Allah’
In latest spat between regional rivals, Tehran claiming Riyadh ignored ‘the security and respect’ of its pilgrims to Mecca
By Siavosh GHAZI
Islamic State's affiliate Sinai Province at weapons training, February 6, 2016 (illustrative image: Telegram.me/HaiAlaElJehad5 via MEMRI)
March 24, 2016, 7:24 pm
Islamic State explains why it doesn’t attack Israel (yet)
Palestine is not the Muslims’ ‘primary cause,’ IS article argues; ending Saudi control of Mecca and Medina takes precedence
By Dov Lieber
Senior Adviser to Supreme Leader in Military Affairs, Yahya Rahim Safavi at an inaugural ceremony marking the opening of the 4th international general assembly of the Shiite Ahlul-Bayt in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday Aug. 18, 2007. (AP/Hasan Sarbakhshian/File)
September 28, 2015, 8:23 pm
Iran official: Saudi royal house to fall within 20 years
Tehran issues blistering criticism of Riyadh over deaths of hundreds of Muslims in stampede during hajj pilgrimage
By TOI staff
Saudi security officers monitor screens with live views of Muslim pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca, along with highways and high density areas, a few days before the start of the annual pilgrimage, known as the hajj, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
September 21, 2015, 1:21 am
100,000 Saudi troops to protect holy sites for the hajj
5,000 CCTV cameras to help monitor throngs during upcoming massive Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina
By Aya Batrawy
August 23, 2015, 11:20 am
Iranians begin hajj amid tensions with Saudi Arabia
700 pilgrims leave for Mecca and Medina after Tehran canceled previous, smaller, pilgrimage due to alleged abuses by authorities
By AP
Muslim worshipers on the Temple Mount during the festival of Eid Al-Adha, October 26, 2012 (photo credit: Sleiman Khader/Flash90)
February 20, 2014, 4:50 pm
Police arrest Waqf employees at Temple Mount
Construction workers allegedly ignored order to stop unauthorized work on water pipe at holy site
By Adiv Sterman and Spencer Ho
Illustrative photo of firefighters combating a blaze. (JINIPIX/Flash90)
February 9, 2014, 7:34 am
Saudi Arabia: Fire at Medina hotel kills 15
At least five Egyptians, including two children, are believed to be dead in the blaze in Islam’s second-holiest city
By AP
Unconfirmed video of a Saudi Arabian Boeing 767-300 crash-landing in Medina, January 5, 2014. (screen capture: YouTube/World News)
January 5, 2014, 4:50 pm
Saudi airliner accident injures 29
Landing gear on Boeing 767-300 fails as plane arrives at Medina airport
By AP
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