JEDDAH, 5 January 2006 — For the ninth consecutive year, CNN will present in-depth, live coverage of the Haj.
Nearly 1.5 million pilgrims from the world over have already arrived in the Kingdom for the annual pilgrimage, which will see more than 2.5 million Muslims undertaking the spiritual journey to Makkah.
CNN anchor Hala Gorani will present live updates and reports from the Haj for six days beginning Saturday. In addition, CNN will broadcast a half-hour special “Haj: The Essential Journey” on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., presented by CNN’s Zain Verjee.
In “Haj: The Essential Journey,” distinguished scholars explain the importance of the sacred rituals, and pilgrims from around the world share their personal stories along the road to Makkah.
“The Haj is a deeply personal journey for those who perform it but also an event of global significance for the more than one billion Muslims around the world. This coverage, which represents a significant logistical operation for CNN, reflects our commitment to the region and to offering our viewers unrivaled coverage of world events,” Rena Golden, senior vice president of CNN International, said in a communication. “The dispatches and reporting surrounding the Haj provide a deeper, more nuanced look into one of the pillars at the heart of the religion.”
