This year’s Haj proved to be significant for Saudi Arabia in many respects. It received some fairly good — and non-political — coverage in the Western media. And nearly a dozen female journalists arrived in Makkah from around the world to cover it, making their presence perhaps the largest contingent of women ever to report on Haj from foreign countries.
This year also had the smallest number of pilgrims performing Haj. The General Authority on Statistics reported that 1,872,909 pilgrims performed the rituals with 1,325,372 worshippers from foreign countries. You have to go back to 2007 for a similar number when the Ministry of Haj reported that 2.4 million pilgrims performed Haj. In contrast, 2012 had the largest number recorded in Makkah for the pilgrimage at an estimated 3 million.
Saudi Arabia has had a monumental task on its hands since the 1960s when air travel was still a luxury afforded by the wealthy. Then, only about 200,000 Muslims performed Haj annually. However, over the decades air travel has become more affordable, thus allowing low- and middle-income pilgrims to fulfill their religious obligations. As the numbers swelled in the past decade so has the complexity of managing Haj.
It’s no small thing to accommodate up to 3 million pilgrims in a relatively small area to perform the rituals. But this year’s Haj was a triumph for the Haj and Umrah Ministry because it struck the right balance in the number of pilgrims allowed into Makkah. Security was tighter than ever as each pilgrim was required to perform his or her obligation through a tour company. The tour company is charged with providing all accommodations, food and seeing that each pilgrim performs the rituals in a safe manner.
Everyone wore a wristband and any pilgrim caught performing Haj without the necessary documentation was subject to arrest and deportation. In 2014 alone, 15,000 pilgrims, mostly expatriates, were arrested for entering the city to illegally perform Haj. Illegal entry in such large numbers is extremely dangerous as Haj officials have difficulty anticipating a surge in worshippers with no way to accommodate them. For 2016, more than 27,000 security personnel were deployed to check wristbands and arrested violators, who were then detained and fined with in 24 hours of their arrest.
This year’s Haj also put to rest the nonsense agitated by Iran, which blamed Saudi Arabia for “sabotaging” the 2015 Haj when hundreds of pilgrims were killed in a stampede. An investigation, however, revealed that Iranian pilgrims deliberately ignored direction warnings by Saudi security personnel and moved against the flow of pilgrims approaching the Jamrat for the stoning ritual.
Iran’s failure to take responsibility for the tragedy and the country’s escalating rhetoric against Saudi Arabia resulted in Iran refusing to send its pilgrims to Haj this season. But it also resulted in a more peaceful, cohesive and smooth operation that led to a more enjoyable experience among the pilgrims. The pilgrimage success and lack of casualties are also reflected in the government’s organizational skills and added safety measures that include a wider mataf to circumambulate the Kaaba.
While the Western media always send Muslim journalists to cover the Haj, this year marked an increase in female journalists covering the scene, including at least one woman from the New York Times. It’s significant because perhaps for the first time special attention — and sensitivity — was paid to the experience of female pilgrims. Harassment of women in large crowds is always a cause for concern, but Western media outlets reported that few if any incidents occurred during the five days of rituals.
Women searching for segregated prayer areas reported having difficulty finding appropriate space, but complaints were minimal. As Haj operations continue to improve, especially when dealing with manageable numbers, these types of issues are likely to be resolved.
This year also had the smallest number of pilgrims performing Haj. The General Authority on Statistics reported that 1,872,909 pilgrims performed the rituals with 1,325,372 worshippers from foreign countries. You have to go back to 2007 for a similar number when the Ministry of Haj reported that 2.4 million pilgrims performed Haj. In contrast, 2012 had the largest number recorded in Makkah for the pilgrimage at an estimated 3 million.
Saudi Arabia has had a monumental task on its hands since the 1960s when air travel was still a luxury afforded by the wealthy. Then, only about 200,000 Muslims performed Haj annually. However, over the decades air travel has become more affordable, thus allowing low- and middle-income pilgrims to fulfill their religious obligations. As the numbers swelled in the past decade so has the complexity of managing Haj.
It’s no small thing to accommodate up to 3 million pilgrims in a relatively small area to perform the rituals. But this year’s Haj was a triumph for the Haj and Umrah Ministry because it struck the right balance in the number of pilgrims allowed into Makkah. Security was tighter than ever as each pilgrim was required to perform his or her obligation through a tour company. The tour company is charged with providing all accommodations, food and seeing that each pilgrim performs the rituals in a safe manner.
Everyone wore a wristband and any pilgrim caught performing Haj without the necessary documentation was subject to arrest and deportation. In 2014 alone, 15,000 pilgrims, mostly expatriates, were arrested for entering the city to illegally perform Haj. Illegal entry in such large numbers is extremely dangerous as Haj officials have difficulty anticipating a surge in worshippers with no way to accommodate them. For 2016, more than 27,000 security personnel were deployed to check wristbands and arrested violators, who were then detained and fined with in 24 hours of their arrest.
This year’s Haj also put to rest the nonsense agitated by Iran, which blamed Saudi Arabia for “sabotaging” the 2015 Haj when hundreds of pilgrims were killed in a stampede. An investigation, however, revealed that Iranian pilgrims deliberately ignored direction warnings by Saudi security personnel and moved against the flow of pilgrims approaching the Jamrat for the stoning ritual.
Iran’s failure to take responsibility for the tragedy and the country’s escalating rhetoric against Saudi Arabia resulted in Iran refusing to send its pilgrims to Haj this season. But it also resulted in a more peaceful, cohesive and smooth operation that led to a more enjoyable experience among the pilgrims. The pilgrimage success and lack of casualties are also reflected in the government’s organizational skills and added safety measures that include a wider mataf to circumambulate the Kaaba.
While the Western media always send Muslim journalists to cover the Haj, this year marked an increase in female journalists covering the scene, including at least one woman from the New York Times. It’s significant because perhaps for the first time special attention — and sensitivity — was paid to the experience of female pilgrims. Harassment of women in large crowds is always a cause for concern, but Western media outlets reported that few if any incidents occurred during the five days of rituals.
Women searching for segregated prayer areas reported having difficulty finding appropriate space, but complaints were minimal. As Haj operations continue to improve, especially when dealing with manageable numbers, these types of issues are likely to be resolved.
