Riyadh, Jun 17: Saudi Arabia is expected to scale back or call off this year's hajj pilgrimage for the first time in its modern history, observers say, a perilous decision as coronavirus cases spike.
Muslim nations are pressing Riyadh to give its much-delayed decision on whether the annual ritual will go ahead as scheduled in late July.
But as the kingdom negotiates a call fraught with political and economic risks in a tinderbox region, time is running out to organise logistics for one of the world's largest mass gatherings.
A full-scale hajj, which last year drew about 2.5 million pilgrims, appears increasingly unlikely after authorities advised Muslims in late March to defer preparations due to the fast-spreading disease.
"It's a toss-up between holding a nominal hajj and scrapping it entirely," a South Asian official in contact with Saudi hajj authorities said.
A Saudi official said: "The decision will soon be made and announced."
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, withdrew from the pilgrimage this month after pressing Riyadh for clarity, with a minister calling it a "very bitter and difficult decision".
Malaysia, Senegal and Singapore followed suit with similar announcements.
Many other countries with Muslim populations -- from Egypt and Morocco to Turkey, Lebanon and Bulgaria -- have said they are still awaiting Riyadh's decision.
In countries like France, faith leaders have urged Muslims to "postpone" their pilgrimage plans until next year due to the prevailing risks.
The hajj, a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, represents a major potential source of contagion as it packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites.
But any decision to limit or cancel the event risks annoying Muslim hardliners for whom religion trumps health concerns.
It could also trigger renewed scrutiny of the Saudi custodianship of Islam's holiest sites -- the kingdom's most powerful source of political legitimacy.
A series of deadly disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers, has prompted criticism of the kingdom's management of the hajj.
"Saudi Arabia is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," Umar Karim, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told AFP.
"The delay in announcing its decision shows it understands the political consequences of cancelling the hajj or reducing its scale."
"Buying time"
The kingdom is "buying time" as it treads cautiously, the South Asian official said.
"At the last minute if Saudi says 'we are ready to do a full hajj', (logistically) many countries will not be in a position" to participate, he said.
Amid an ongoing suspension of international flights, a reduced hajj with only local residents is a likely scenario, the official added.
A decision to cancel the hajj would be a first since the kingdom was founded in 1932.
Saudi Arabia managed to hold the pilgrimage during previous outbreaks of Ebola and MERS.
But it is struggling to contain the virus amid a serious spike in daily cases and deaths since authorities began easing a nationwide lockdown in late May.
In Saudi hospitals, sources say intensive care beds are fast filling up and a growing number of health workers are contracting the virus as the total number of cases has topped 130,000. Deaths surpassed 1,000 on Monday.
To counter the spike, authorities this month tightened lockdown restrictions in the city of Jeddah, gateway to the pilgrimage city of Mecca.
"Heartbroken"
"The hajj is the most important spiritual journey in the life of any Muslim, but if Saudi Arabia proceeds in this scenario it will not only exert pressure on its own health system," said Yasmine Farouk from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"It could also be widely held responsible for fanning the pandemic."
A cancelled or watered-down hajj would represent a major loss of revenue for the kingdom, which is already reeling from the twin shocks of the virus-induced slowdown and a plunge in oil prices.
The smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage was already suspended in March.
Together, they add $12 billion to the Saudi economy every year, according to government figures.
A negative decision would likely disappoint millions of Muslim pilgrims around the world who often invest their life savings and endure long waiting lists to make the trip.
"I can't help but be heartbroken -- I've been waiting for years," Indonesian civil servant Ria Taurisnawati, 37, told AFP as she sobbed.
"All my preparations were done, the clothes were ready and I got the necessary vaccination. But God has another plan."
Comments
Good initiative and we hope this has a wide outreach.
The activities of the fringe antisocials have to exposed for what they are and whom they serve.
By educating our youth, imparting skills, creating jobs and fostering humanity, we can ensure that harmony is sustained.
We are busy firefighting and not bothering to target and tackle the root cause, the real fire.
So pleased to see that the various sects have come together towards a better future for our beloved Mangalore.
Bravo!
Few on dias are jobless. Nice way to make living.. no income tax at all.
Easy life
Organising such an event is itself a landmark in communally sensitive city like Mangalore. It is Humanity Vs Hate & Terror. Wish this small step by proud sons of Mangalore prove to be a sigh of relief to the Peace loving general public of twin districts. Hope this will be the start of isolating BAD ELEMENTS from ALL COMMUNITIES for a Better Managalore!! Jai Hind!
Great stuff Saif.. May God Bless you... Hope all the Mangaloreans understand and live peacefully... @ Viren .. dont follow whoever you are following blindly..it will lead you no where... hatred has never brought peace no where in the world.. it will only lead to destruction.. live and let live.. Jai Hind
Hi Mangaloreans,
Thanks a million for your support and kind words.
1. Small drops make a ocean , have patience
2. Wish you the same and Thanks for the motivation madam
3. It's just the beginning and we have just started with a few , will be adding more in the future.
4. Thanks a million sir
5. The youth wing of Billavara Sangha Yuva Vahini is with us & youth from all communities are being misused
6.Thanks a million for your wishes sir
7. We are organising such events to warn Mangaloreans about trouble makers like you in all communities, we have filed a Cyber Crime Complaint and they are tracking your IP Adress , expect a call soon where you are
Jai Hind
this is a pure gimmick by both parties. In fact worship idols itself a gimmick.. all show off.. to fool people..
I think organisers forgot to include Hizbul mujahideen. hahaha.
Try involve Billavara Sangha representation. Billava youths are mostly used by the leaders of violence for their political benefits.
Most of the roudism, murder etc cases billava unemployed or uneducated youths are behind . They are the one who get killed and most they are the one who are going to the Jail.
Good Luck!
All the best.
Our twin districts known for peaceful co-existence communal harmony,love,brotherhood and trust. And also known for hospitality for guests Mangaloreans are intelligent educated smart and kind hearted people.. But now a days people are living with hatred and
insecure feelings. Few anti social elements trying to spoil the image of our districts by seeding the hatred poisons in the minds of the innocent people. It is the responsibility of all the NGO's ,politicians, religious scholars, administrative institutions to promote and uphold the peace and harmony in the society.
Major NGO's and religious organizations missing in the unique conclave.
Good move. God bless you all. God bless Mangaluru.
But when the major organisations will unite for a better cause? you can bring small organisations together anytime. Even though bunts organisations is part of the event, am sure it's for name sake.
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