French Muslim Nabil Ennasri has arrived in Saudi Arabia after completing a 5,000 km bicycle journey, which began on April 22 in Paris. Ennasri, who is of Moroccan origin, crossed over 11 countries during his trip, including Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Greece, Jordan, and Turkiye. A French affairs analyst, writer, and civil society activist, Ennasri focused on social issues, such as discrimination and education, throughout his journey.
Ennasri shared his experiences on social media, and stated that his objective was to revive the traditional pilgrimage experience that Muslims followed in the past. He also aimed to raise awareness of global warming, stating that our planet is our home and must be preserved for future generations.
Ennasri was welcomed warmly by the Saudi Cycling Federation during his short stay in Jeddah and was given the opportunity to practice with the members of the club on the Jeddah Corniche. When asked about his journey, Ennasri noted that some members of his family had traveled on foot for months or even years to complete the pilgrimage.
For Ennasri, the significance of his journey was to explain global warming and the misunderstandings surrounding it to the Muslim community. He hopes that his trip will inspire others to rethink their own approaches to travel. Ennasri believes that protecting nature and our world is critical to our planet, and everyone has a role to play in preserving it for future generations.
