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Two million Muslims begin Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca
Some two million Muslims from across the world have begun the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Dressed in simple white clothes, the pilgrims started at sunset by circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site.
Iranians are once again participating this year after missing the last Hajj following a deadly stampede in 2015.
But only a few dozen pilgrims are there from neighbouring Qatar, embroiled in a bitter dispute with Saudi Arabia.
For Muslims, the Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It is something that every sane adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it and are physically able.
The Saudi authorities say they have taken all necessary precautions to prevent a repeat of the stampede two years ago that was triggered by two crowds colliding.
Saudi officials said at the time that almost 800 pilgrims were killed, but one unofficial tally put the death toll at more than 2,400.
Iran alone reported 464 deaths and subsequently accused the Saudi authorities of being "at fault" for them - a charge Saudi officials rejected.
Saudi interior ministry spokesman Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki said more than 100,000 security personnel had been deployed at various sites around Mecca and Medina to protect and marshal pilgrims, along with thousands of cameras.
"Everything is prepared," he said. "We have our plans, we have people trained to enforce those plans, but this cannot be done only by infrastructure and by what we do. Pilgrims have their own responsibility, and we hope they comply with the schedule plans and the flow of direction."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41102788
Some two million Muslims from across the world have begun the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Dressed in simple white clothes, the pilgrims started at sunset by circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site.
Iranians are once again participating this year after missing the last Hajj following a deadly stampede in 2015.
But only a few dozen pilgrims are there from neighbouring Qatar, embroiled in a bitter dispute with Saudi Arabia.
For Muslims, the Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It is something that every sane adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it and are physically able.
The Saudi authorities say they have taken all necessary precautions to prevent a repeat of the stampede two years ago that was triggered by two crowds colliding.
Saudi officials said at the time that almost 800 pilgrims were killed, but one unofficial tally put the death toll at more than 2,400.
Iran alone reported 464 deaths and subsequently accused the Saudi authorities of being "at fault" for them - a charge Saudi officials rejected.
Saudi interior ministry spokesman Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki said more than 100,000 security personnel had been deployed at various sites around Mecca and Medina to protect and marshal pilgrims, along with thousands of cameras.
"Everything is prepared," he said. "We have our plans, we have people trained to enforce those plans, but this cannot be done only by infrastructure and by what we do. Pilgrims have their own responsibility, and we hope they comply with the schedule plans and the flow of direction."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41102788
