Epstein Files: Kaaba Cloth Pieces from Mecca Were Shipped to Him

Newly released documents from the so-called Epstein files have revealed that pieces of the Kiswa, the sacred black cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, were shipped to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2017 through contacts linked to the United Arab Emirates, raising serious religious, ethical and legal questions.

According to email correspondence dated February and March 2017, UAE-based businesswoman Aziza al-Ahmadi worked with a man identified as Abdullah al-Maari to arrange the air shipment of three Kaaba-related cloth pieces from Saudi Arabia to the United States. The items were flown via British Airways and delivered to Epstein’s residence in Florida.

Sacred artefacts, private hands

The Kiswa holds immense religious significance for Muslims worldwide. Each year, the cloth is ceremonially replaced, and its previous fabric is traditionally treated as a highly restricted and revered artefact, often distributed only through official religious channels or gifted to heads of state and institutions.

Emails indicate the shipment included, One piece from inside the Kaaba, one piece from the outer covering that had been used and a third piece made of the same materials but unused.

In one message, the unused cloth is described as a way to categorise the shipment under “artworks”, a classification that may have eased customs clearance. In a striking email addressed directly to Epstein, Ahmadi emphasised the cloth’s spiritual importance: "The black piece was touched by minimum 10 million Muslims of different denominations, Sunni, Shia and others… They kept their prayers, wishes, tears and hopes on this piece.”

Unanswered questions and disturbing details

In another exchange, Epstein’s long-time assistant Lesley Groff sent Ahmadi a DNA testing kit, though the purpose of the test is not explained in the documents. Epstein himself rarely communicated directly with Ahmadi. In one email to Groff, she requested a brief visit to Epstein’s New York home to say goodbye and wish him a happy birthday, asking for “just 15 min.”

Intelligence allegations resurface

Separately, a newly released FBI memo, made public on Friday evening, claims Epstein had ties to US and Israeli intelligence. The memo alleges that Epstein was close to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and had been trained as a spy under him. The claims have not been independently verified and have reignited debate over the extent of Epstein’s influence and protection.

Silence from authorities

Saudi authorities, UAE officials, and representatives of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques have not publicly commented on how Kaaba-related artefacts were obtained or exported. Religious scholars contacted by media outlets have previously stressed that unauthorised possession or commercial transfer of Kiswa material would be considered deeply offensive to Muslim communities.