OFFICIALS DEFEND GULF KINGDOM AFTER HAJJ DEATHS SAYS SAUDI STATE DID NOT FAIL
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A top Saudi official defended the Gulf state’s handling of the hajj pilgrimage on Friday, following reports from multiple nations of over 1,100 fatalities, many of which were linked to the intense heat.
“The state did not fail, but there was a misjudgement on the part of people who did not appreciate the risks,” the official told AFP in the government’s first comments on the deaths.
Using official comments and accounts from diplomats involved in the reaction, an AFP count on Friday put the number at 1,119, with more than half coming from Egypt.
According to the Saudi official, 577 deaths have been officially reported on the two busiest days of the hajj: Saturday, when pilgrims gathered on Mount Arafat for hours of prayer under the scorching heat, and Sunday, when they took part in the “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina.
“This happened amid difficult weather conditions and a very harsh temperature,” the official said, while acknowledging that the 577 figure was partial and did not cover all of hajj, which formally ended on Wednesday.
One of the five pillars of Islam is the hajj, which every Muslim who has the means to do so must perform at least once before they pass away.
Prior to this, Saudi officials had announced that 1.6 million of the 1.8 million pilgrims participating this year were from outside the country.
Individuals receive their hajj visas through a lottery after countries are allotted them according to a quota system.
Prior to this, Saudi officials had announced that 1.6 million of the 1.8 million pilgrims participating this year were from outside the country.
Individuals receive their hajj visas through a lottery after countries are allotted them according to a quota system.
Even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs make the irregular route — which costs thousands of dollars less — more attractive.
“We can estimate the number of the unregistered pilgrims at around 400,000,” the Saudi official said Friday.
“Almost most of them from one nationality,” the official added, an apparent reference to Egypt.
Arab diplomats told AFP earlier this week that Egypt accounted for 658 deaths, 630 of them unregistered pilgrims.
AFP
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