SAUDI ARABIA: The Emir of Mecca and head of the Saudi High Committee for Haj Prince Khalid al-Faisal briefs journalists at the end of the Haj pilgrimage

Record ID: 188876

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: The Emir of Mecca and head of the Saudi High Committee for Haj Prince Khalid al-Faisal briefs journalists at the end of the Haj pilgrimage
  • Date: 9th November 2011
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS CALLING ON GOD AT END OF STONING. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PILGRIM, ISSAM, SAYING "The pilgrimage this year went very well, thank God, all necessary services were provided, and as you can see we did not face any difficulties during the stoning rite." HELICOPTER FLYING OVER PILGRIMS LEAVING JAMARAT TO MECCA FOR LAST CIRCULATION
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA9TQNNJEZMLIW8U4ZXWOD0HAWR
  • Story Text: The head of Saudi High Committee for Haj Emir of Mecca, Prince Khalid al-Faisal held his annual news conference on Tuesday (November 8) as this year's pilgrimage draws to a close.
    "I congratulate all pilgrims on the success of the pilgrimage this year, and on their performance of this duty, on the day that they move from Mina to Mecca on their way home safely, God willing," Prince Khalid al-Faisal told reporters in Mina.
    Home to Islam's holiest sites, Saudi Arabia regards itself as the guardian of Islam and assumes the responsibility of maintaining a peaceful haj season when Muslims from various sects gather at the same place and time.
    Syrian pilgrim, Issam, told Reuters that he was impressed with the smooth running of the Haj.
    "The pilgrimage this year went very well, thank God, all necessary services were provided, and as you can see we did not face any difficulties during the stoning rite," he said.
    Some of the pilgrims performed their third and final ritual stoning of the devil in Mina, before heading back to Mecca to perform their final perambulation in the Grand Mosque, whichtheir pilgrimage. Other pilgrims will wait until Wednesday to perform the final rites.
    This year, haj has come at a time of sweeping change in the Middle East, where a wave of uprisings has toppled veteran leaders in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Gaddafi, captured and killed last month, was the latest to fall. But the march for change halts outside the gates of Mecca, where pilgrims say they leave politics behind
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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