Sunday, June 23, 2024 The Egypt government has swiftly responded to reports of misconduct by 16 tourism companies facilitating illegal travel for pilgrims to Makkah. This action follows the tragic deaths of over 1,100 individuals, with many linked to extreme heat, during this year’s Haj pilgrimage. The Prime Minister has revoked the companies’ licenses and referred their managers to the public prosecutor’s office.
Arab diplomats revealed that Egyptians accounted for 658 deaths, with 630 of them being unregistered pilgrims. The increase in deaths among unregistered Egyptian pilgrims was linked to some companies organizing Haj programs using personal visit visas. A senior Saudi official defended the kingdom’s management of the pilgrimage, noting that Haj permits are allocated to countries based on a quota system and distributed to individuals through a lottery.
However, the high costs often lead many pilgrims to attempt Haj without a permit, risking arrest and deportation if caught by Saudi security forces. The irregular route, which can save pilgrims thousands of dollars, has become more popular since Saudi Arabia introduced a general tourism visa in 2019, easing entry into the kingdom. The Saudi government confirmed 577 deaths during the two busiest days of Haj amid challenging weather conditions and extreme temperatures.
Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims with the means are required to complete it at least once in their lives. Saudi officials st.
