Saudi hails ‘smooth’ Mecca haj

No major security incident like the 2015 stampede at this year’s pilgrimage.

Mina: Saudi Arabia reported no major security incidents or health scares at this year’s pilgrimage as the Muslim faithful embarked on the last leg of the five-day haj.

The “Stoning of the Devil” ritual in the western city of Mina that started at dawn was the scene of a 2015 stampede that killed 2,300 pilgrims in the worst crisis ever to hit the annual pilgrimage.

According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, 2.35 million Muslims are participating in the latest pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest site in Islam, including 1.75 million from outside the kingdom.

Speaking at a press conference in nearby Mina yesterday, Maj-Gen Mansour al-Turki, an interior ministry spokesman, said his country was determined to ensure a “smooth” pilgrimage.

“Our plan for nafra (the ritual return from Mina to Mecca) lived up to the required standard,” said Col Sami al-Shweirekh of Saudi Arabia’s General Security, hailing the “success” of security measures.

Tight security was in place to safeguard this year’s pilgrimage launched on Wednesday, with autho- rities saying they had deployed more than 100,000 personnel to oversee the haj.

Authorities also put to rest concerns over potential health hazards.

“To date, there are no epidemic diseases reported,” said Meshaal al-Rabiyan, a health ministry spokesman.

The haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is required of all financially and physically able Muslims at least once in their lifetime.

The stoning ritual, which ends today, marks the first day of the Eid al-Adha feast, or the feast of sacrifice.

The holiday is marked by the sacrifice of sheep and cattle by Muslim communities around the world. — AFP