Hajj salvation reduce to Kingdom 60,000; Kuwait backs transfer

DUBAI, June 12, (Agencies): Saudi Arabia introduced Saturday this yr’s Hajj pilgrimage might be restricted to not more than 60,000 individuals, all of them from inside the kingdom, as a result of ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The announcement by the dominion comes after it ran an extremely pared-down pilgrimage final yr over the virus, however nonetheless allowed a small variety of the trustworthy to participate within the annual ceremony. A press release on the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted the dominion’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry making the announcement. It stated this yr’s Hajj, which can start in mid-July, might be restricted to these ages 18 to 65. Those collaborating have to be vaccinated as properly, the ministry stated. “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is honored to host pilgrims yearly, confirms that this association comes out of its fixed concern for the health, security and security of pilgrims in addition to the security of their international locations,” the assertion stated.

In this July 31, 2020 file photograph, pilgrims stroll across the Ka’aba on the Grand Mosque within the Muslim holy metropolis of Makkah. Saudi Arabia stated June 12, 2021, that this yr’s Hajj pilgrimage might be restricted to not more than 60,000 individuals, all of them from inside the kingdom, as a result of ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (AP)

In final yr’s Hajj, as few as 1,000 individuals already residing in Saudi Arabia have been chosen to participate. Twothirds have been overseas residents from among the many 160 totally different nationalities that will have usually been represented on the Hajj. One-third have been Saudi security personnel and medical employees. Each yr, as much as 2 million Muslims carry out the Hajj, a bodily demanding and infrequently pricey pilgrimage that pulls the trustworthy from world wide. The Hajj, required of all able-bodied Muslims to carry out as soon as of their lifetime, is seen as an opportunity to wipe clear previous sins and convey about larger humility and unity amongst Muslims.

Takes
The kingdom’s Al Saud ruling household stakes its legitimacy on this oil-rich nation on overseeing and defending the hajj websites. Ensuring the Hajj occurs has been a precedence for them. Disease outbreaks have all the time been a priority surrounding the Hajj. Pilgrims fought off a malaria outbreak in 632, cholera in 1821 killed an estimated 20,000, and one other cholera outbreak in 1865 15,000 earlier than spreading worldwide. More not too long ago, Saudi Arabia confronted hazard from a special coronavirus, one which causes the Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. The kingdom elevated its public health measures through the Hajj in 2012 and 2013, urging the sick and the aged not to participate. In latest years, Saudi officers additionally instituted bans on pilgrims coming from international locations affected by the Ebola virus. Saudi Arabia had closed its borders for months to attempt to cease the unfold of the coronavirus. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the dominion has reported over 462,000 circumstances of the virus with 7,500 deaths. It has administered some 15.4 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, in keeping with the World Health Organization.

The kingdom is residence to over 30 million individuals. Kuwait welcomed Saudi Arabia’s resolution to restrict this yr’s Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to solely 60,000 nationals and expatriates residing within the nation, resulting from fears concerning the unfold of coronavirus. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry, in a press release, applauded Saudi Arabia’s “big and appreciated efforts” in service of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, amid its dedication to make sure their security. The ministry went on to commend Riyadh’s assist of scientic and medical endeavors geared toward tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation welcomed Saudi Arabia’s resolution to restrict this yr’s Hajj season to only 60,000 residents and expatriates residing within the kingdom. The resolution was made to stop the unfold of COVID-19, notably in gentle of the emergence of latest variants and in accordance with Islamic teachings, GCC’s Secretary General Nayef Al-Hajraf stated in a press release on Saturday. Riyadh’s step goals to guard the health of pilgrims, he added. On his half, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef Al-Othaimeen additionally applauded the choice, including that defending individuals’s lives and their wellbeing is a part of Islam’s most important rules.

The submit Hajj salvation reduce to Kingdom 60,000; Kuwait backs transfer appeared first on ARAB TIMES – KUWAIT NEWS.

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