Muslims urged to delay making plans for hajj pilgrimage
A senior Saudi official yesterday urged more than 1 million Muslims intending to perform the hajj to delay making plans this year — suggesting the pilgrimage could be cancelled due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
In February, the kingdom took the extraordinary decision to close off the holy cities of Mecca and Medina to foreigners over the virus.
Restrictions have tightened in the kingdom as it grapples with more than 1700 confirmed cases of the new virus. It has reported 16 deaths.
The Middle East has more than 75,000 confirmed cases of the virus, most of those in Iran, and more than 3400 deaths. Iran’s health ministry spokesman, Kianoush Jahanpour, said the virus had killed a further 138 people, pushing the death toll to 3036 amid 47,593 confirmed cases.
“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is prepared to secure the safety of all Muslims and nationals,” Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Banten told state television. “That’s why we have requested from all Muslims around the world to hold on to signing any agreements (with tour operators) until we have a clear vision.”
He spoke as the sound of crickets echoed outside the Grand Mosque of Mecca, which normally draws thousands of worshippers throughout the day and night.
Saudi Arabia has barred people from entering or exiting three major cities, including Mecca and Medina, and imposed a nighttime curfew across the country. The kingdom also suspended all inbound and outbound commercial flights.
Each year, up to 2 million Muslims perform the hajj, a physically demanding, often costly pilgrimage that draws the faithful from around the world.
Banten also said the kingdom was already providing care for 1200 pilgrims stuck in the holy city due to global travel restrictions. Some were being quarantined in hotels in Mecca.
The kingdom’s Al Saud ruling family stakes its legitimacy in this oil-rich nation on overseeing and protecting the hajj sites. Saudi King Salman has said his government will cover the costs treatment of all coronavirus patients in the country, including visitors, foreign residents and those residing illegally.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has again slammed the US sanctions on his country.
He said now would have been “the best time” for the Trump administration to ease sanctions on Iran, reeling from the region’s worst outbreaks of the virus.
Iran has been urging the international community to lift sanctions, and is seeking a $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund for the first time in decades.
In Israel, which has detected 5591 cases and is under near lockdown, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced further containment measures.
He said police would tightly restrict entry and exit from the Tel Aviv suburb of Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox city especially hard hit by the virus. Many in Israel’s insular ultra-Orthodox communities have defied bans on public gatherings, fuelling tension with authorities.