Hajj

Saudi Prepares for Another Hajj Pilgrimage Under Extreme Heat

The deaths of 1,300 pilgrims during the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia last year underscored the urgent need to mitigate dangers posed by extreme heat, with crowd management an essential first step, analysts say. Temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit) in the holy city of Mecca last June as 1.8 million ...

Gaza War Hangs Over Hajj as Pilgrims Flock to Mecca

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have flocked to the Saudi holy city of Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage unfolding this year in the shadow of the Gaza war. One of the world's largest annual religious gatherings officially begins on Friday, and Saudi officials are trying to keep the focus on prayers. The Gulf kingdom's minister in charge of ...