Muslims flock to hajj despite deadly crane collapse
19 Sep 2015 1:39 AM GMT
More than 1.2 million faithful have already arrived for the annual hajj, which begins on Tuesday against a backdrop of increased jihadi violence, a surge of the deadly MERS virus and with the kingdom at war in Yemen. From all races and ages, they flocked into the Grand Mosque, where they prayed -- some silently in tears and others loudly in groups carrying their countries’ flags.
The hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform the pilgrimage at least once. Previously marred by stampedes and fires that killed hundreds, it had been largely incident-free for the past decade after safety improvements.
But on September 11, during severe winds, a construction crane toppled into a courtyard of the Grand Mosque. Saudis, Iranians, Nigerians, Malaysians, Indonesians and Indians were among the dead.
About 400 more people were injured, but it has not stopped pilgrims carrying out their rituals.
“Do you see the number of people here? Do you think they are fearful? It is quite the opposite. People here have faith in God and perceive those that died as martyrs,” said Amin al-Rahman of Bangladesh.
The crane was one of several on a multi-billion-dollar expansion to accommodate increasing numbers of faithful. With another million pilgrims expected for the hajj, King Salman acted swiftly to sanction the developer, Saudi Binladin Group.
Samira Abdulwahab, a pilgrim from Sudan who had just finished circling the cube-shaped Kaaba, which all Muslims face to pray, called the Grand Mosque “the safest place in the world”. The Kaaba is now barely visible amid the surrounding construction works.
Tawaf, or circumambulating the Kaaba, is a ritual of the pilgrimage performed by the white-clad
pilgrims who come from all over the world.
Pilgrims’ safety a priority, says Saudi Arabia crown prince
The safety of Muslim pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia is a priority, the crown prince said on Friday, assuring that a deadly crane accident at Islam’s holiest site will not affect this year’s hajj.
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was referring to a tragedy a week ago, when a massive crane being used in work on an expansion of Mecca’s Grand Mosque toppled into a courtyard, killing 108 people.
Another 402 people were injured.
Prince Mohammed, quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency, said the kingdom always “takes into consideration the safety of pilgrims as a priority”.
The incident has been dealt with “in record time with the directives issued by King Salman and.... has no more effect whatsoever on the hajj plans for this year.”
The prince, who is also interior minister, yesterday reviewed a parade and drill by security officers demonstrating their readiness to protect the hajj from attacks or accidents.
On Tuesday, King Salman sanctioned the contractor, Saudi Binladin Group, after he reviewed an investigative committee’s findings that the firm was “in part responsible” for the crane collapse during severe winds.
He ordered prosecutors to prepare an indictment, excluded the company from new public projects and forbade its executives from leaving the country pending the completion of <g data-gr-id="103">legal</g> action. Saudis, Iranians, Nigerians, Malaysians, Indonesians and Indians died in what was the worst hajj-related accident in years.
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