Wednesday, March 18, 2026
20.1 C
New Delhi

Epstein Files: 3 sacred pieces of Kaaba cloth shipped to US Virgin Islands

Epstein Files: 3 sacred pieces of Kaaba cloth, Kiswa, shipped from Saudi Arabia's Mecca via UAE contacts to Jeffrey Epstein in US Virgin Islands

Epstein Files: Sacred Kaaba Cloth Shipped to Jeffrey Epstein via UAE Contacts

In one of the most startling disclosures yet from the recently unsealed Jeffrey Epstein Files, emails show that three pieces of the Kiswa, the sacred black and gold cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, were shipped from Saudi Arabia to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the United States in 2017. What has made the revelation particularly explosive is that the shipment was reportedly arranged through contacts linked to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including an Emirati businesswoman and a Saudi intermediary.The documents, part of a growing cache of correspondence released under increased legal transparency demands, include detailed emails from February and March 2017 outlining how the cloth, normally a deeply revered religious artefact, was handled, packaged and transported by air freight from Saudi Arabia to Florida via British Airways before reaching Epstein’s residence in the US Virgin Islands.

Trump Says New Epstein Documents “Absolve” Him And Hints At Legal War | WATCH

What the Epstein Files mails reveal

According to multiple reports summarising the newly released files, the transaction involved:

  • Three separate pieces connected to the Kiswa, one from inside the Kaaba’s covering, one from the outer embroidered cloth that had been used and a third unused piece made from the same material.
  • Coordination between Emirati businesswoman Aziza Al-Ahmadi and a Saudi contact named Abdullah Al-Maari, who arranged the shipment.
  • The shipment was described in part as “artwork” for customs classification purposes, likely to avoid scrutiny over its sacred origin and contents.

Emails underscore the religious significance of the pieces, noting that the cloth had been touched by millions of pilgrims of varied Islamic denominations during tawaf rituals, with prayers, tears and hopes embedded in it. Despite the detailed logistics in the correspondence, the documents do not explain how Al-Ahmadi first came into contact with Epstein, nor the reason Epstein wanted or had shipped to him such deeply symbolic religious artefacts.

International outrage and cultural backlash over Epstein Files’ Kiswa shipment

As news of the shipment circulated online, reactions in Muslim communities were intense and polarised. On social platforms like Reddit, users expressed shock, disgust or disbelief, touching on the religious weight of the Kaaba’s covering and what it means for sacred items to be diverted to a private figure, much less a convicted child sex offender.

One thread noted simply, “This is sad because now the pro-Trump restarts are going to see this … An Emirati”, reflecting broader mistrust and geopolitical reads on the leaks. Another discussion highlighted how some online commenters questioned the intent behind the shipment, with speculation ranging from religious misunderstanding to deeper conspiracy theories, even if these are not grounded in verifiable evidence.

Why is Kiswa or Kaaba cloth sacred?

The Kaaba’s Kiswa holds profound spiritual significance in Islam. Worn during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the cloth is replaced each year and fragments of the old covering are traditionally distributed as honoured relics or diplomatic gifts to select institutions and dignitaries, not trafficked to private individuals.

Due to this spiritual context, reports of the Kiswa fragments being sent to individuals associated with Epstein have provoked intense debate about religious propriety, cultural respect and possible misuse of sacred heritage. Many Muslims see the Kiswa not just as fabric but as a symbol of unity and worship, and its handling is governed by customs deeply rooted in Islamic tradition.

What the Epstein Files don’t explain

Beyond the religious dimension, the disclosed emails also raise diplomatic and geopolitical questions, especially regarding how artefacts from one Muslim majority country were routed through another to reach Epstein in the United States. Some coverage has highlighted how these revelations intersect with broader scrutiny of elite networks and influence, particularly in the Gulf region.

The fact that intermediaries in the UAE played a central role in coordinating the shipment including handling customs, invoicing and flights, has prompted discussion about what such interactions say about business links and personal networks among high-profile figures. Crucially, despite detailed logistical correspondence, the Epstein Files do not clarify:

  • Why Epstein wanted the Kiswa pieces in the first place.
  • Whether the cloth was formally gifted, purchased or obtained through other means.
  • The exact motivation or rationale whether spiritual, diplomatic, personal or otherwise, behind the shipment’s organisation.

This ambiguity has fuelled online debate and speculation, even as serious media outlets emphasise reliance on documented emails rather than unfounded conjecture.

Bottom line: Epstein Files and global reaction

This latest revelation comes amid a broader wave of document releases known as the Epstein Files, which have unveiled controversial connections, communications and transactions involving a wide range of prominent figures, business leaders and politicians across multiple regions. Content from this tranche has sparked political turbulence, social media uproar and renewed focus on how power and influence intersect with misconduct allegations. Across Muslim communities and political circles, this specific story has touched a nerve by linking one of Islam’s most sacred symbols to Epstein’s infamy, a nexus that blends religious sentiment, cultural values and global scandal in unprecedented ways. The Epstein Files’ disclosure that sacred Kiswa cloth pieces from the Kaaba were shipped to Jeffery Epstein through UAE-linked contacts and received at his residence in the US has ignited widespread discussion, criticism and consternation.While details about the why behind the shipment remain unknown, the episode adds a deeply sensitive chapter to the ongoing global scrutiny of Epstein’s networks and the handling of religious heritage. Go to Source

Hot this week

BJP lashes out at Congress for ‘endorsing’ USCIRF report

NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday hit out at Congress for “endorsing” the USCIRF report recommending sanctions on RSS and RAW and said in their antagonism to govt and PM Narendra Modi, the opposition party and Rahul Gandhi are standing again Read More

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ teasers release before trailer- WATCH

The first trailer for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is finally set to debut today. Read More

Israel Seeks Regime Change In Iran But Says Protesters Will ‘Get Slaughtered’: Report

An Israeli assessment said Iran’s regime is “not cracking” and is willing to “fight to the end” despite the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Go to Source Read More

11 MLAs defy diktat, expose Congress weakness in NDA states

NEW DELHI: Eleven Congress MLAs defied the party diktat in RS elections, once again highlighting how Upper House polls – both at the Centre and in states – have emerged as the party’s Achilles’ heel when it is in the opposit Read More

Topics

BJP lashes out at Congress for ‘endorsing’ USCIRF report

NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday hit out at Congress for “endorsing” the USCIRF report recommending sanctions on RSS and RAW and said in their antagonism to govt and PM Narendra Modi, the opposition party and Rahul Gandhi are standing again Read More

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ teasers release before trailer- WATCH

The first trailer for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is finally set to debut today. Read More

Israel Seeks Regime Change In Iran But Says Protesters Will ‘Get Slaughtered’: Report

An Israeli assessment said Iran’s regime is “not cracking” and is willing to “fight to the end” despite the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Go to Source Read More

11 MLAs defy diktat, expose Congress weakness in NDA states

NEW DELHI: Eleven Congress MLAs defied the party diktat in RS elections, once again highlighting how Upper House polls – both at the Centre and in states – have emerged as the party’s Achilles’ heel when it is in the opposit Read More

Farah: ‘In Main Hoon Na, Amrita’s character came from me’

Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan recently opened up about her turbulent childhood, rejecting the “nepo kid” tag as she revisited her family’s dramatic fall from wealth to poverty after her father Kamran Khan’s film Aisa Bhi Hota Hai failed Read More

After revocation of suspension, Congress MPs insist protest was for Opposition rights, question Speaker

Congress’ Manickam Tagore on protest NEW DELHI: After the revocation of their suspension on Tuesday, Congress MPs insisted that their “dignified” protest was for the demand that leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and othe Read More

‘Dhurandhar 2’ scenes and runtime cut by CBFC

The day we have all been waiting for is finally here! ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ finally arrives in cinemas today, with preview shows playing across cinemas. Read More

Related Articles