TUNIS | Xinhua | The death toll among Tunisian pilgrims who performed Hajj in Saudi Arabia has risen to 53, Tunisia’s state television Wataniya 1 reported. “Until this Saturday, the number of Tunisian pilgrims who died in holy places in Saudi Arabia while performing the Hajj rituals, increased further from …
Read More »Death in Muslim Mecca
Hajj death toll tops 1,000 after extreme heat ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | The death toll from this year’s hajj had by June 21 exceeded 1,000, a tally by the international news agency AFP has said. More than half were unregistered worshippers who performed the pilgrimage in extreme heat in Saudi Arabia. …
Read More »Govt to step in to check Hajj fraudsters
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has started investigations into allegations of fraud that were reported by Muslims traveling to Mecca and Medina. During the past weeks, several groups of Muslims who were preparing to embark on their sacred journey to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina to …
Read More »Uganda Airlines set for first pilgrimage flight to Mecca in 40 years
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The new Uganda Airlines will make its inaugural flight for the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest Muslim city in Saudi Arabia. In a statement issued on Thursday, Uganda Airlines describes the flight as a significant milestone for the national carrier after 40 years …
Read More »Grand Mosque in Macca receives 1st batch of pilgrims as Hajj begins
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Xinhua | The first batch of pilgrims arrived on Saturday at the Grand Mosque in Macca to perform their first ritual for Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The ritual was performed with huge preparations and precautionary measures against COVID-19, and there are different locations that …
Read More »Saudi Arabia suspends entry for pilgrims to Mecca over coronavirus
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Saudi Arabia on Thursday suspended visas for visits to Islam’s holiest sites for the “umrah” pilgrimage, an unprecedented move triggered by coronavirus fears that raises questions over the annual hajj. The kingdom, which hosts millions of pilgrims every year in the cities of Mecca …
Read More »THIS WEEK: One Ugandan dies on pilgrimage to Mecca
Kampala, Uganda | THIS WEEK | Sheikh Adbdul Busulwa, the chairperson Federation of Hajj Affairs in Uganda on Sept.04 confirmed the death of an 83 year old pilgrim who died in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hajji Dauda Musoke a resident of Namagoma Wakiso district was found dead in his room. The deceased is …
Read More »In smartphone age, the hajj is for sharing
In smartphone age, the hajj is for sharing Mecca, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Arm outstretched, Abdul Rahman sweeps his mobile phone across the vista of Mecca, the Great Mosque dazzling in the sun, so his son in Tanzania can experience the pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest sites. He may be thousands …
Read More »Iran, Qatar voice support for Saudi after Mecca bombing
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Both Iran and Qatar on Saturday voiced support for Saudi Arabia over a suicide bombing near Islam’s holiest site in Mecca despite their severed ties. “Iran… as always expresses its readiness to assist and cooperate with other countries to confront these criminals, who deal death …
Read More »Police foil ‘terrorist action’ in Mecca
Mecca, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Saudi Arabian police foiled on Friday a “terrorist action” against Islam’s holiest site, where millions of faithful from around the world have gathered, the state Al-Ekhbaria news channel said. Citing the Ministry of the Interior, it said 11 people were injured in the collapse of …
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