Nearly two million pilgrims have converged on western Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj, with hundreds of thousands others are not attending the pilgrimage because Saudi authorities failed to ensure their safety following last year’s tragic stampede which killed hundreds.
Saudi officials about two million Muslims descended on the holy city of Mecca on Thursday to perform Hajj.
In one of the first rites of Hajj, which formally starts on Saturday, white-clad pilgrims take their turn circling the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque.
Saudi officials say some three million pilgrims are expected to arrive for the pilgrimage that every able-bodied and financially able Muslim is obliged to undertake during their lifetime.
However, many others will not be able to attend the event, including those from Iran which lost the biggest number of pilgrims by a single country during the last Hajj pilgrimage.
Iran decided not to send its pilgrims this year because of “obstacles” created by Saudi Arabia and its failure to guarantee their safety.
At least 464 Iranians lost their lives during last year’s Hajj crush which claimed as many as 2,400 lives, according to body counts from several countries or even double or more that figure according to some officials.
Saudi authorities gave an initial tally of 770 deaths and then stopped counting the dead as the toll rose.
The events which led to the crush as well as Saudi authorities’ handling of its aftermath drew widespread criticism which continues to this day.
The tragedy came days after a massive construction crane collapsed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque, killing more than 100 people. Eleven Iranian pilgrims lost their lives in that incident.
Source: Agencies
