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| Sunday, 17 February 2002 |
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Muslims converge on Mecca for high security pilgrimage. MECCA, Saudi Arabia, Feb 16 (AFP) - More than two million Muslims from all over the world converged on Mecca amid strict security Saturday for the annual hajj pilgrimage to Islam's holiest shrine. Saudi authorities have beefed up the security presence in and around Mecca to control anticipated record numbers for the first mass gathering of Muslims since the September 11 attack on the United States. Police were controlling the main entrances to Mecca to prevent unauthorized people from entering the city at the heart of which stands the Grand Mosque. Thousands of police and security personnel have also been deployed at the major sacred sites on the outskirts of the city, which pilgrims visit as part of elaborate three-day rituals that begin on Wednesday. The authorities have mobilized some 60,000 employees and volunteers, in addition to 20,000 soldiers and security men for the hajj. Thousands of flights have landed at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, 75 kilometres (47 miles) west of Mecca, carrying hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from more than 100 countries. An airport official said Saturday more than one million pilgrims had already arrived by air up to Friday midnight. Saturday midnight (2100 GMT) is the deadline for pilgrims to arrive by plane. The Saudi government has granted several exemptions to land after the deadline, the official told AFP. Among those who arrived were 890 Afghan pilgrims aboard two chartered planes. A total of 15,000 Afghans were enrolled for the hajj but airport officials said no more flights were expected from Kabul on Saturday. About 200,000 to 300,000 other pilgrims were expected to arrive by sea and land from outside of Saudi Arabia. They will be joined by more than half a million others from inside the kingdom. Experts predict a turnout of around 2.5 million pilgrims, some 500,000 more than last year, due mainly to the September 11 attacks and tension in the Islamic world. Saudi authorities have appealed for a peaceful pilgrimage and warned they will not allow any political activity or protests, particularly against the United States. Imam of the Grand Mosque Osama Khayyat urged pilgrims during his Friday sermon to stay away from trouble and to focus on the benefits of hajj. Some two million worshippers prayed at the mosque at noon Friday. Masses of the faithful men dressed in two pieces of seamless white cloth and women with head cover thronged the Grand Mosque to circle the cube-shaped Kaaba seven times on arrival. While making the rotation around the Kaaba stone, the faithful prayed passionately for God to forgive their sins and to accept their pilgrimage. Muslims believe a true pilgrimage absolves sins and cleanses the soul. Pilgrims then make the "Saiy", a walk repeated seven times between two hillocks, where Abraham's wife Hagar searched for water for baby Ishmael until she found the Zamzam Spring, which still runs in the same place today. The hajj, which every able-bodied Muslim must carry out at least once if he has the means, starts in earnest on Wednesday when the pilgrims move to Mina, a valley outside Mecca, where they will be housed in fire-proof tents. They keep an all-night vigil in Mina, and on Thursday will move to "stand" on Mount Arafat, 12 kilometres (seven miles) away, the climax of hajj. Here, they will stay until sunset, praying for forgiveness at the site of the Prophet Mohammad's last sermon 14 centuries ago. The health ministry has prepared some 21 hospitals and 300 medical centers, with a capacity of 7,000 beds, in Mecca, the surrounding sites and the city of Medina, some 450 km (275 miles) to the north. An extra 9,000 medical staff have been drafted in. Health Minister Osama Shobokshi said in remarks published Saturday that no cases of infectious diseases have been discovered. Six huge water tanks have been built in Mina and Arafat with a capacity of 300,000 cubic meters (10.6 million cubic feet). Some 13,000 cleaners with vehicles have also been deployed. Eid Al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice, starts Friday when every pilgrim must sacrifice a sheep and stone three pillars representing Satan. |
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