Saudi Arabia has reported the tragic deaths of over 1,300 pilgrims during the recent Hajj pilgrimage, held under extreme heat conditions. Most of the deceased unauthorized pilgrims, lacking the official permits required for Hajj. These pilgrims endured long walks under the scorching sun without sufficient shelter, contributing to the high mortality rate.
The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) disclosed that 83% of the deceased did not have the necessary permits. This announcement comes after previous reports suggested the death toll exceeded 1,100. Notably, many of the deceased were Egyptians, with 630 of the 658 Egyptian casualties being unregistered pilgrims.
Before this official statement, Saudi authorities had not commented on the death toll. However, on Friday, a Saudi official revealed that 577 deaths occurred on the pilgrimage’s two busiest days: June 15, during prayers on Mount Arafat, and June 16, during the “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina. The official defended the Saudi response, attributing the high number of fatalities to unauthorized pilgrims underestimating the risks.
Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel praised the management of Hajj, calling it a success despite the challenges. He highlighted that the health system provided over 465,000 specialized treatments, including services to unauthorized pilgrims.
The Hajj is a significant Islamic ritual, one of the five pillars of Islam, and every Muslim with the means required to perform it at least once. This year, 1.8 million pilgrims participated, with 1.6 million coming from abroad. The event coincided with Saudi Arabia’s intense summer heat, with temperatures in Makkah soaring to 51.8°C (125°F).
In response to the high number of unauthorized Egyptian pilgrims, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly revoked the licenses of 16 tourism companies and referred their managers to the public prosecutor. These companies had organized illegal pilgrimages, bypassing the official Hajj visa system, leading to the rise in unregistered pilgrim deaths.
Hajj permits distributed by a quota system and highly sought after. The significant costs and limited availability often push many to undertake the pilgrimage without proper authorization, risking severe penalties.
