- Title: Muslim pilgrims converge on Jamarat for ritual stoning of the devil
- Date: 13th August 2019
- Summary: MINA, SAUDI ARABIA (AUGUST 13, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS STONING THE DEVIL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) QASIM HAQAWI, A PILGRIM FROM SAUDI ARABIA, SAYING: "When the pilgrim comes to perform haj, he has a personal wish to pray to God. There are people who are sick, people who are facing hardships, there are people who are suffering from debts and these are all prayed to God for whatever he wishes for." PILGRIMS WALKING THROUGH MECCA MECCA GOVERNOR PRINCE KHALID AL-FAISAL BEING SEATED CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MECCA GOVERNOR PRINCE KHALID AL-FAISAL SAYING: "Our fundamental task is to ensure that the pilgrim is comfortable and safe to perform haj which was ordered by God in these places during this time. But whatever is happening in other Muslim countries this is up to them, and Saudi Arabia does not intervene in other Muslim countries' affairs." PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS OF PRINCE KHALID PRINCE KHALID LEAVING
- Embargoed: 27th August 2019 13:19
- Keywords: Mecca Governor Prince Khalid al-Faisal
- Location: MINA, SAUDI ARABIA
- City: MINA, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001AS1XMBR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Muslims making their haj pilgrimage entered the third day of the symbolic stoning of the devil on Tuesday (August 13).
The ritual, which began on Sunday (August 11), requires pilgrims to hurl pebbles at a giant wall.
This is considered the riskiest part of the haj where hundreds died in a crush four years ago.
The kingdom stakes its reputation on its guardianship of Islam's holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, and organising the world's largest annual Muslim gathering which retraces the route Prophet Mohammad took 14 centuries ago.
Tens of thousands of security forces and medics are deployed alongside modern technology including surveillance drones to maintain order.
Nearly 2-1/2 million pilgrims, mostly from abroad, have arrived for the five-day ritual, a religious duty once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. They are asked to follow carefully orchestrated schedules for each stage of haj, but with so many people, panic is a constant danger.
Mecca Governor Prince Khalid al-Faisal gave a press conference to say the comfort and safety of pilgrims was of greatest importance to Saudi authorities.
(Production: Jihad Abu Shalbak, Muath Freij, Sarah Duffy) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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