look news india
Many questions are being raised on the Saudi government after the deaths due to extreme heat during Hajj. On Friday, a senior Saudi Arabian official came out in defense of the management of the Hajj pilgrimage and defended the Saudi government. This year, about 1100 people have died during Hajj, most of whom have died due to extreme heat. After which questions are constantly being raised on the management of the Saudi government.
What does the Saudi government say?
The Saudi official said the Saudi Hajj system has not failed but people have made bad decisions who did not heed warnings of dangers. The Saudi government has confirmed 577 deaths during the two busiest days of the Hajj, a Saudi official said. These deaths occurred when pilgrims prayed for hours in the scorching heat of Mount Arafat on Saturday and participated in the 'stoning of the devil' ritual in Mina on Sunday.
due to bad weather
The Saudi official said the deaths occurred amid bad weather. He acknowledged that the figure of 577 was partial and did not include deaths during the entire Hajj. The Saudi government said 1.8 million pilgrims took part this year, of which 2 million were from Saudi Arabia and the rest from abroad. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and every wealthy Muslim must perform it at least once in their lifetime. The Saudi official also blamed poor arrangements for pilgrims coming to perform Hajj without permits to avoid the expensive Hajj.
Going on Hajj without permission
Under the quota system, Hajj permits are given to each country and then distributed among the citizens of that country through a lottery. Those who obtain this permit have to pay a hefty fee, which is why many Hajj pilgrims come to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj on a tourist visa. If they do so, they risk arrest and deportation. In 2019, the Saudi government made its tourist visa easier and cheaper, after which it has become easier to come to Saudi. People try to save thousands of rupees by performing Hajj without a Hajj permit.
This year around 4 lakh people participated in Haj without permission
The Saudi official said that about three lakh people were identified before Hajj. There was fear of performing Hajj without them, but later orders came from above that those who have come to the holy place should not return. Saudi officials estimate that about 400,000 people participated in Hajj without permission this year. Pointing to Egypt, the official said that almost all people of the same nationality who perform Hajj without permit are deprived of many facilities provided by the Saudi government such as AC tents to protect from heat, safety kits etc.