Cairo, Shawwal 21, 1439, Jul 5, 2018, SPA -- The official spokesman of the Secretary-General of the Arab League Mahmoud Afifi today denied news circulated about the prevention of Syrian citizens from performing Hajj this year. "There is no precedent that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has politicized Hajj or prevented a Muslim from performing it," he said in a press statement. Afifi further said that the Kingdom, as part of its Hajj arrangements, is preparing to receive some 18,000 Syrians to perform Hajj for this year 1439 H (2018 G). He stressed the importance of not being drawn behind anonymous news seeking to promote undoubted political purposes. --SPA 23:44 LOCAL TIME 20:44 GMT 0030 www.spa.gov.sa/w712984