'Epstein was gifted sacred cloth from Kaaba'

The religious significance of the kiswa (Ghilaf-e-Kaaba) is immense for Muslims. Every year, the old kiswa is removed from the Kaaba and a new one is pulled in. Parts of the old kiswa are considered very valuable religious artifacts.

This valuable artifact was sent to the notorious 'sex offender' Jeffrey Epstein.

This sensational information has emerged in new documents from the 'Epstein Files' recently released by the US Department of Justice.

According to the e-mail in the document, a part of the gilaf (kiswa) of the holy Kaaba in Mekkak was sent to the United States in 2017 using a connection from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In emails sent on different dates in February and March 2017, Emirati businesswoman Aziza Al-Ahmadi and a man named Abdullah Al-Marri arranged to ship three pieces of cloth related to the Kiswa. The Kiswa, or shroud, is the black cloth with gold patterns that covers the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site in Saudi Arabia.

The emails show that the cloths were flown from Saudi Arabia to Florida by British Airways. The shipment involved meticulous coordination of invoices, customs formalities and delivery within the United States.

The letters mention three types of cloth—one taken from the inside of the Kaaba, one part of a used outer shroud and another made from the same material but not used. The documents say the unused cloth was sent with the intention of being classified as a “work of art.”

The shipment arrived at Epstein’s home in March 2017. He was serving a prison sentence for sex offences at the time.

In an email to Epstein, Aziza al-Ahmadi highlighted the religious significance of the cloth, writing, “This black cloth has been touched by at least 10 million Muslims—Sunni, Shia, and people of all faiths. They circumambulate the Kaaba seven times and touch it as much as they can, pouring out their prayers, hopes, and tears.”

However, the documents do not mention how Epstein met Ahmadi or why the cloths were sent to him.

The email also shows Ahmadi checking in on Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, after Hurricane Irma hit the Caribbean in September 2017. Over the course of several days, she contacted Epstein’s secretary to inquire about the situation on the island.

In an email, the secretary wrote that the safety of everyone was paramount, but that many structures, trees, docks, and roads had been damaged. Ahmadi responded by joking, “I promised to send a new tent.”

It is not clear from the documents whether Ahmadi had ever been to Epstein’s island or how much he knew about what was going on there. The investigation has revealed that Little St. James Island was used as a hub for Epstein’s sex trafficking operations.

Another email shows that Leslie Groff, Epstein’s longtime assistant, sent Ahmadi a DNA test kit. However, the purpose of this is not clear.

The emails indicate that Epstein rarely communicated directly with Ahmadi. He also wrote that he wanted to visit his home briefly before leaving New York to wish him a happy birthday.

Meanwhile, an FBI memo released on January 30 claimed that Jeffrey Epstein worked with US and Israeli intelligence agencies. The memo says he was close to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and even trained as a spy under him.