SAUDI ARABIA: The annual haj pilgrimage begins with thousands of Muslims pouring into the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca

Record ID: 189245

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: The annual haj pilgrimage begins with thousands of Muslims pouring into the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca
  • Date: 10th October 2013
  • Summary: MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 10, 2013) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET TRAFFIC SIGNS VARIOUS OF BUSES CARRYING PILGRIMS ARRIVING BUS CARRYING AFGHAN PILGRIMS ARRIVING BUS WITH AFGHAN PILGRIMS DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOT VARIOUS OF AFGHAN PILGRIMS GETTING OFF BUS EGYPTIAN PILGRIMS WITH THEIR LUGGAGE NEAR BUS EGYPTIAN FEMALE PILGRIM WITH LUGGAGE BAGS ON GROUND VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS DISEMBARKING FROM BUS VARIOUS OF BUSES CARRYING PILGRIMS FROM MALAYSIA VARIOUS OF INDONESIAN PILGRIMS GETTING OFF BUS INDONESIAN PILGRIM WITH LUGGAGE TALKING TO MAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED ALGERIAN PILGRIM, SAYING: "I pray for all Arab people, all the Arab people, Allah be with us and grant us victory." VARIOUS OF LEBANESE PILGRIMS CHANTING RELIGIOUS HYMNS VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING IN STREET POLICE SECURING AREA POLICE VEHICLE PARKING IN STREET POLICE OFFICER DIRECTING TRAFFIC
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA88KUOTVURT97UOBRVVXZ6JLY6
  • Story Text: Buses carrying Muslim pilgrims began arriving in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca on Thursday (October 10) for the annual haj pilgrimage. The first official mass gathering begins on Sunday (October 13).
    About two million people are expected to perform the haj ritual, the largest religious gathering in the world, which poses a huge logistical and security challenge for the Saudi authorities.
    An Algerian pilgrim said he would be praying for all Arab nations during his pilgrimage.

    "I pray for all Arab people, all the Arab people, Allah be with us and grant us victory," he said.
    As one of Islam's five pillars, the haj is enjoined on all Muslims who are physically able to carry it out, but haj celebrations have been overshadowed by police clashes with protesters in previous years.
    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.
    The Saudi government is particularly vigilant of possible militant actions. Al Qaeda-linked militants launched a campaign to destabilize the U.S.-allied monarchy in 2003, and Saudi radicals opposed to the royal family seized control of Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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