PESHAWAR: The transgender community Friday slamed the reported ban on Umrah or visiting Saudi Arabia for religious purposes imposed by the Saudi government.

The Trans Action Alliance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a non-governmental organisation working for the rights of the third gender, held a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Friday to draw the attention of the media to the report that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with immediate effect has instructed the consuls around the world to deny visas to the transgender persons.

However, the Saudi embassy dismissed any such news report.A transgender rights activist working with NGO Blue Veins said that the kingdom had formally banned transgenders from visiting the country for religious purposes. A transgender said that it was ridiculous that Saudi government was depriving them as Muslim of their right to visit the holy places.