MAKKAH: Many Iraqi pilgrims are here for Haj, but their thoughts are with their families back home in the war-ravaged country. Some of the Iraqi pilgrims are refugees living outside Iraq.
Ali Al-Kanaani, an Iraqi-born pilgrim, who went to the United States before the American occupation of his country and has been living there since, told Arab News that although he lives in Michigan with his family, his heart is still in Iraq where he was born and brought up.
“I feel sad about the situation in Iraq,” he said. “I pray to God for the unity of the Iraqi people and hope that Iraqis will join hands and rebuild their great country. I am grateful to Saudi Arabia for its efforts to keep Iraq united.”
“I have been dreaming about coming to the Kingdom to perform Haj for a long time,” said Kazem Ahmad, another Iraqi pilgrim living in the US.
“All the exhaustion and fatigue disappeared once we arrived in Makkah. I will make use of this opportunity to meet my relatives who live in Iraq and who have also come here to perform Haj. I have not seen them for a long time — every since I left Iraq.”
Haydar Ali, a 56-year-old Iraqi who lives in Baghdad, said the situation in Iraq is improving gradually with the drop in the incidents of violence. Ali is performing Haj for the second time. He said he noticed many changes in Makkah since his previous visit more than 16 years ago.
“The overcrowding is still a problem but we will have to deal with it,” he said. “I am praying to God to improve the conditions of Muslims and especially Iraqis.”
