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."
However, the city police had been keeping an eye on him for past several months, according to Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik.
Comments
Naren is born in India his father is jews who was visited once upon a time Padubidri. He met a lady there and they had a sex. After nine month she deliver a baby devil his name Naren Kotian. After his birth she traveled with jews to Thailand there she met one muslim guy from pakistan and they loved each other. They droped naren in Thailand untill now he is begging in Thailands streets. And also he is hating Muslims.
If he is a BANGHA PARIVAR person like Toghadia, Bhat then it is fake news and no problem.
Police is maintaining double standard by not arresting bhat, muthalik, sharan kind of people...they still loitering giving hate speeches around...these crooks are the real terrorists....
this moulana could have said something...but he could not succeed in his mission....but others (bajrangy leaders) did succeed.....
Look at him ,traitor .. ... shoot to kill is the only solution for back stabbing the nation which gave him shelter and food ... mostly many are not reading what is written , simply chummah sorry ummah gang member antha kirchadtha idave ... report clearly says he was abusing other religions and he was mentioning other countries ( USA and our beloved israel ) , so this comes under act of terrorism ... . we must adopt a policy of deporting these types of rogue elements along with families to kaaliplate ( hahaha caliphate ruled by his elder brother rapist baghdadi ) by giving one way ticket ... well done police .. keep it up... hahahaha
#7 Sathish Kulal , Mangalore
You are right ..............Indresh who gave ISI our secrets ....Muthalik who hoisted PAK flag in Sindhagi .......... Prajna singh who blasted and killed ................Aseemanand who conspired against an INDIAN..............Vajapeyi who ate beef outside INDIA...........Yashpal suvarna who betrayed fishermen and expelled.........Maya kodnani who killed indian citizenz.....babu bajarangi who killed a preganant Indian women after raping .................
is it enough
This is the technique of Politicians they want to divert public concentration one to other thing they keep him at jail for some time after some year they wont able to find sufficient evidence then release him this is what happening we muslims have lots of similar cases.
Wht the hell .....keep a watch n arrest who are innocent but let free those openly bark haterate. ...this is our government and this is called tolerance
if no evidence why arrested him ? sick police
i heard his speech. hatred about hindu community.
i request to delhi police please release him immediately.
why this police are targeting only muslims, totally injustice to our community in this country,
desh drohi must be put inside the jail.
they are just investigating the matter. its their rights to investigate each and everyone with whom they get doubt.
Indian People Please understand the situation, dont support this kind of people they only speech to divert the mind into communal violence.
this police are only targeting innocent people all the time, i request the government to release him in the respective manner.
hang him to death, desh drohi
Delhi police is known for its atrocities against innocents. Even chief minister Arvind Kerjriwal is not safe from Delhi police, which follows the order of Modi govt.
Only in CD this kind of rubbish news reports we can find. All other news portals have come up with clear details and evidences against this cleric. but CD reporters playing games endangering national security.
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