SAUDI ARABIA: Security tight around Mecca as Muslim pilgrims perform a devil-stoning ritual during the annual haj
Record ID:
188846
SAUDI ARABIA: Security tight around Mecca as Muslim pilgrims perform a devil-stoning ritual during the annual haj
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Security tight around Mecca as Muslim pilgrims perform a devil-stoning ritual during the annual haj
- Date: 8th November 2011
- Summary: MENA, SAUDI ARABIA (NOVEMBER 7, 2011) (REUTERS) CONTROL AND COMMAND CENTRE OFFICERS MONITORING SECURITY CAMERAS SECURITY MONITORS SHOWING DIFFERENT AREAS OF HAJ (SOUNDBITE) (English) COLONEL KHALID AL-AMRY, COMMANDER OF CONTROL AND COMMAND CENTRE, SAYING: "2803 cameras in the whole area, and we have more than 900 cameras for the train station." VARIOUS SECURITY CAMERA MONITORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) COLONEL KHALID AL-AMRY, COMMANDER OF CONTROL AND COMMAND CENTRE, SAYING: "We have more than 500 cameras and also with the crowd management system, it will give us an indication if there is overcrowded area, will avoid any stampedes, we will detour it, divert it to other level of the Jamarat (stoning point)." SECURITY CAMERA MONITORS OFFICER AND HIS ASSISTANT LOOKING AT MONITORS AERIAL VIEW OF GRAND MOSQUE IN MECCA PILOT FLYING HELICOPTER AERIAL OF THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS' TENTS AT MINA VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS LEAVING MINA CAMPS TO PERFORM DEIVIL-STONING RITUAL VARIOUS OF SECURITY GUIDING PILGRIMS PILGRIMS PERFORMING DEVIL-STONING RITUAL OFFICER WATCHING PILGRIMS VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS PERFORMING DEVIL-STONING RITUAL SECURITY CONTROLLING ACCESS TO AREA VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PERFORMING DEVIL-STONING RITUAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. MOHAMMAD ANWAR, INDIAN PILGRIM, SAYING: "Everything is very good, management is perfectly all right and the movement is smooth, there is not any obstruction anywhere and al-Hamdulillah (thank God), everything is fine." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMAD IBRAHIM, LIBYAN PILGRIM, SAYING: "We call on God to unite the people of Libya, and for Libyans to forget the hatred instilled in them by the tyrant Muammar Gaddafi, and unite Muslims everywhere, and I wish victory for the people of Syria and the people of Lebanon....the people of Yemen, Yemen.....Yemen and Syria, God willing." VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS PRAYING AFTER DEVIL-STONING RITUAL
- Embargoed: 23rd November 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAEGDW7M5KFMOO26J12TUHGQELK
- Story Text: Muslim pilgrims stoned walls symbolising the devil in a narrow valley outside Mecca on Monday (November 7) as Saudi security kept a close watch on events to avoid over-crowding.
Pilgrims headed to the Jamarat Bridge to take part in the ritual that represents rejection of temptation.
However, the bridge in the valley of Mena just outside Mecca has been the scene of a number of deadly stampedes. The last was in 2006 when 362 people were crushed to death in the worst haj tragedy since 1990.
Security officers said thousands of cameras were monitoring the entire area, with more than 900 at the train station alone. The Jamarat Bridge area was of particular concern.
"We have more than 500 cameras and also with the crowd management system, it will give us an indication if there is overcrowded area, will avoid any stampedes, we will detour it, divert it to other level of the Jamarat (stoning point)," said the head of the Control and Command centre, Colonel Khalid al-Amry.
Following incidents in previous years, the Saudi authorities made renovations to ease the flow of pilgrims at the bridge, adding an extra level so that they have four platforms from which to throw stones each day.
Those taking part said they were pleased with the way the haj was organised.
"Everything is very good, management is perfectly all right and the movement is smooth, there is not any obstruction anywhere and al-Hamdulillah (thank God), everything is fine," said Dr. Mohammad Anwar, a pilgrim from India.
Saudi Arabia has not so far reported any major glitches in the haj, a challenging logistical feat that has been marred in previous years by deadly fires, hotel collapses, police clashes with protesters and stampedes caused by overcrowding.
Elaborate crowd control measures, involving security forces and a maze of paths marked by barriers, guided pilgrims to the three spots by the bridge in the Mena valley where they threw stones they had collected at a spot called Muzdalifa.
Up to three million people from around the world are in Mecca to perform the haj, which this year has come at a time of sweeping change in the Middle East.
But even though pilgrims will not dabble in political discussions during haj, pilgrims say the imprints of a new Middle East and concerns about the future of the region are present in their prayers - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None