Saudi Arabia expected to call off or scale back hajj pilgrimage amid COVID-19

Amid a soaring number of coronavirus cases, Saudi Arabia is expected to call off or scale back this year’s hajj pilgrim for first time since 1932. While a decision is yet to be anunced, Muslim nations are reportedly pressing kingdom to give its much-delayed decision on wher pilgrim will go ahe as scheduled in late July. With COVID-19 spreing rapidly across world, while several countries withdrew from pilgrim, ors urged its citizens to postpone ir plans until next year. 

While speaking to an international media outlet, a Saudi official reportedly said that delay in anuncing its decision shows that authorities understand political consequences of calling off hajj or reducing its scale. official ded that even if at last minute Saudi authorities say that y are rey to do a full hajj, several countries will t be in a position to participate. It is also anticipated that with pilgrim will mainly see local residents this year due to  ongoing suspension of international flights.

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Countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Senegal and Singapore has alrey withdrawn pilgrim. Indonesia, being world's biggest Muslim-majority country sends more than 2,20,000 people every year to Hajj, however, Fachrul Razi, Indonesia's religious affairs minister said during a news conference said, “ government has decided to cancel Hajj 2020 as Saudi Arabian authorities failed to provide certainty. This was a very bitter and difficult decision. But we have a responsibility to protect our pilgrims and Hajj workers”. 

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Coronavirus outbreak 

Saudi Arabia is reportedly likely to cancel hajj pilgrim this year as kingdom is struggling to contain dely virus. According to Johns Hopkins University tally, Saudi Arabia has reported over 132,000 cases so far and nearly 1,011 deaths. Earlier this month, kingdom also reimposed 3 PM curfew in Jiddah and banned prayers in mosques. 

Even with an increasing number of cases, kingdom planned a phased reopening amid an ecomic crisis. While in first phase, Saudi authorities eased curfew in all areas, apart from Mecca and allowed cares to ply between 6am and 3pm, in phase two officials allowed Friday prayers at mosques. third phase, on or hand, is expected to begin on June 21. Meanwhile, Domestic travel restrictions - including internal flights - have also been lifted. 

(Im: AP) 

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