Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly cracked down on 16 tourism companies for illegally facilitating pilgrims’ travel to Makkah, resulting in over 1,100 deaths during this year’s Haj. Arab diplomats revealed that Egyptians made up a majority of the deaths, with 630 unregistered pilgrims among them. The companies used personal visit visas to organize Haj programs, preventing pilgrims from entering Makkah via official channels, ultimately leading to the tragic deaths. Saudi officials defended their management of the pilgrimage, citing difficult weather conditions and harsh temperatures during key rituals.
Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires all Muslims with the means to complete it at least once in their lives. Despite the risks, many attempt Haj without permits due to the steep costs involved. The Saudi government confirmed 577 deaths during the busiest days of Haj, emphasizing the challenges posed by weather conditions. With 1.8 million pilgrims participating, the timing of Haj continues to shift forward each year in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Overall, the tragedy highlights the importance of proper planning and adherence to regulations to ensure the safety of pilgrims during this sacred journey.\
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