article_snippet.sent: Iran has forbidden Iran citizens from travelling to Saudia Arabia's holy sites over claims two teenaged boys were abused by Saudi airport officials while returning from a pilgrimage.
article_snippet.sent: Iranian officials made the decision following claims two of Iranian citizens were abused while returning from an off-season pilgrimage at Jeddah airport in March.
article_snippet.sent: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Nooshabadi told the state TV that the pilgrimage would be suspended until the Saudi government 'applies a strong attitude' to the case.
article_snippet.sent: Iraninan Culture Ministry spokesman Hossein Nooshabadi also said 'capital punishment' should apply to the case, without offering further details.
article_snippet.sent: Yesterday, a representative of Iran's top leader on pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia downplayed the case, saying the pilgrims weren't abused. '
article_snippet.sent: Some 500,000 Iranians visit Saudi Arabia each year for the off-season umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, Islam's holiest sites.
article_snippet.sent: Earlier this month, aviation authorities in the kingdom turned away an Iranian plane carrying pilgrims, saying aviation authorities in the kingdom did not have permission to use Saudi Arabia's airspace, Saudi state media reported.
article_snippet.sent: Iran has insisted in the past that Iran pilgrims be allowed to hold 'disavowal of infidels' ceremonies
article_snippet.sent: — rallies denouncing Israel and Saudi ally the United States - when on pilgrimages.
article_snippet.sent: Saudi Arabia bans such demonstrations at hajj and in 1987, one such rally led to clashes with Saudi security forces in which more than 400 pilgrims, mostly Iranians, were killed.
article_snippet.sent: Iran prevented pilgrims from attending hajj for three years after the killings.
highlights_snippet.sent: Iranians ban Saudi pilgrimage following claims of abuse on two teenagers .
  