Hajj ends without incident

‘We have not seen pilgrims coming to express political stands’

CAIRO: Saudi authorities said the Hajj pilgrimage, Islam’s largest annual gathering, has been free of security and health problems.

“This year’s Hajj is going perfectly well,” said spokesman for the Saudi Interior Ministry, Mansour al-Turki. The Hajj ended yesterday.

“No security or health problem has been recorded,” al-Turki added, according to Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya.

In recent years, the Hajj has been marred by political rioting and deadly stampedes.

“We have not seen pilgrims coming to express political stands,” al-Turki said.

This year’s pilgrimage was held amid a crisis between a Saudi-led bloc and Qatar over the emirate’s alleged support for extremist groups, leading to the severing of diplomatic and transportation links.

Doha had accused Saudi Arabia of creating obstacles for Qatari pilgrims, a claim Riyadh rejected.

Two weeks before the Hajj, Saudi King Salman ordered the opening of his country’s border with Qatar to allow in Qatari pilgrims.

In 2015, hundreds of pilgrims – including many Iranians – were crushed to death in the stone-throwing ritual in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, triggering tensions between Saudi Arabia and its regional rival, Iran.

Iranians are again participating in the event, which they boycotted last year due to a row with Saudis on pilgrimage regulations.

Devout Muslims are expected to perform the Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, at least once in their lifetime, provided they are fit enough and have the finances.

An estimated 2.3 million Muslims from around the world have been attending this year’s Hajj, Islam’s largest gathering.

Each pilgrim ritually casts 21 pebbles at three walls symbolising the devil inside a multilevel structure known as the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, 7km north-east of Mecca.

Large numbers of security force members have been deployed in Mina since the ritual started on Friday to prevent stampedes.

The rite is an emulation of Prophet Abraham’s casting of pebbles at the devil, who is believed to have tried to tempt him into disobeying God’s command to sacrifice his son.

The pilgrims will then head to Mecca to walk seven times around the cube-shaped Kaaba in a rite called the “farewell tawaf ” that marks the end of the five-day pilgrimage.

While performing their daily prayers, Muslims face in the direction of the Kaaba.

Saudi authorities have said this year’s Hajj has been free of trouble. – dpa

PICTURE: AP SEA OF DEVOTEES: Muslim pilgrims attend midday prayers outside the Namirah mosque near Arafat, during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.