JEDDAH: The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) has won the praise of pilgrims during this year’s Haj season for introducing a new service allowing them to keep their luggage in Mina before heading to the Jamrat Bridge for the stoning ritual.
“We are very happy at providing this innovative service to the guests of God,” said Dr. Muhammad Badahdah, assistant secretary-general of WAMY. “This service was aimed at helping pilgrims to carry out their religious rituals easily without being bothered about their luggage,” he said. Badahdah said the project was carried out in coordination with the Makkah municipality. “Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar welcomed the idea soon after we presented it to him,” he said, adding that he extended all support to the project.
The organization deployed more than 130 youths to implement the project. They kept the luggage and other possessions of pilgrims in lockers until they returned from Arafat and the Jamrat Bridge.
He said WAMY had set up 28 locker facilities in various parts of Mina, adding that their locations were selected in coordination with the Public Security Department and Makkah municipality.
The project is significant as the crowd of pilgrims carrying their luggage were the main reason behind the deadly stampede that marred the Haj in January 2006.
In some stations, it was mandatory for pilgrims to keep their bags in lockers, especially while going to Jamrat as security forces would not have allowed them to proceed otherwise.
“Pilgrims were very happy to keep their luggage and other goods in our lockers and they praised WAMY for the service,” Badahdah said.
