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June 24, 2020

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Saudi Arabia scales back hajj

Source: AP | 00:15 UTC+8 June 24, 2020 | Print Edition

Muslims around the world hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Mecca to perform the hajj will have to wait until next year, after Saudi Arabia drastically curtailed the pilgrimage due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A Saudi official said yesterday that the hajj pilgrimage, which usually draws millions of Muslims from all over the world, will only see at the most 鈥渢housands鈥 of pilgrims next month due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

The kingdom鈥檚 Hajj Minister Muhammad Benten said a 鈥渟mall and very limited鈥 number of people already residing in the kingdom will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage to ensure social distancing and crowd control amid the outbreak.

鈥淭he number, God willing, may be in the thousands. We are in the process of reviewing so it could be 1,000 or less, or a little more,鈥 Benten said at a virtual press conference.

During the press conference, Saudi officials said that no one over the age of 65 will be allowed to perform the hajj and that all pilgrims and those serving pilgrims this year will be quarantined both before and after the pilgrimage.

鈥淭his is a very sensitive operation and we are working with experts at the health ministry,鈥 Benten said, stressing the importance of protecting the lives and health of pilgrims.

While the decision to drastically curb this year鈥檚 hajj was largely expected, it remains unprecedented in Saudi Arabia鈥檚 nearly 90-year history and effectively bars all Muslims from outside the kingdom from performing the pilgrimage.

The hajj typically draws 2.5 million people from inside Saudi Arabia and around the world.

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