H1N1 + Iranian protesters = Hajj trouble

Image by AFP/Getty Images via Daylife

It’s almost Hajj time in Saudi Arabia again. Each year, millions of Muslim pilgrims flock to Mecca in the world’s largest pilgrimage. Each Muslim is expected to make the Hajj at least once in their lifetime if they have the ability; pilgrims from Nigeria to Indonesia to Argentina stand side by side in ritual outfits in one of the world’s most crowded environments.

But H1N1 is making this year’s Hajj considerably more difficult. The Hajj starts on Wednesday, November 25.

Four pilgrims have already died of swine flu, the Saudi Health Ministry reports. Due to the one-two hit of H1N1 and the global downturn, fewer Muslims have made the trip to Saudi Arabia this year. Nonetheless, official sources in the Saudi Gazette report that a (disputed) 2.5 million people turned out for Friday prayers in Medina. Independent reports from both Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States indicate that the number may be far less; applications for Hajj permits from Saudi residents and citizens reportedly decreased by 65 percent this year.

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities are using an anti-Meccan proclamation by an Iranian cleric to stoke up tensions against Iran and to threaten Iranian pilgrims with bodily harm:

“We hope we will not be obliged to resort to force,” Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said when asked about recent calls by Iranian figures for their pilgrims to protest against the United States and Israel while in Mecca.

“It is not permitted to undertake any actions which are not part of the ritual… and we will not permit anyone to damage the hajj or the pilgrims,” he said.

But Nayef, who is chairman of the national hajj organisation, said he did not really expect trouble.

“We have heard different Iranian statements but the most recent… from Iranian officials who are here seem to indicate that their pilgrims are going to dedicate themselves to the ritual” of the hajj, Nayef told a news conference.

There are fears that Shiite pilgrims from Iran will use the Hajj as an excuse to protest against the Sunni regime of Saudi Arabia.

Also, for those who don’t know much about the Hajj, this story on the tour/pilgrim guides of the Hajj is awesome.