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Hajj Pilgrims Prepare to Depart Makkah to Madinah

Hajj pilgrims during the ritual stoning of the Devil at al-Jamarat. (Abdullah al-Falih)
Hajj pilgrims during the ritual stoning of the Devil at al-Jamarat. (Abdullah al-Falih)
    Mina - Saeed al-Abyad
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Hajj Pilgrims Prepare to Depart Makkah to Madinah

Hajj pilgrims during the ritual stoning of the Devil at al-Jamarat. (Abdullah al-Falih)
Hajj pilgrims during the ritual stoning of the Devil at al-Jamarat. (Abdullah al-Falih)

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif conveyed to security forces the gratitude of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on their success in ensuring the safety and security of the Hajj pilgrims.

The Saudi leadership conveyed its message to the security forces at the Interior Ministry, Presidency of State Security and members of the armed forces that were part of the security plans that were implemented during the Hajj.

Prince Abdulaziz met in Makkah on Sunday with the leaders of various security departments.

He said the Saudi leadership had offered all possible means to serve the pilgrims and ensure that they perform the holy rituals smoothly and without incident.

He expressed the Kingdom’s pride in serving the Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, hailing the efforts of the security and military forces and all concerned ministries and government agencies.

On Monday, the Hajj pilgrims will conclude the holy rituals in Makkah and prepare to depart to Madinah where they will pray at the Prophet’s Mosque and visit the most notable Islamic landmarks.

Preparations are complete to welcome the pilgrims. Various operational plans are in place to ensure they have a smooth journey

From Makkah, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh announced the success of the first phase of the ministry’s plan to serve the Hajj pilgrims.

He said 12,000 Dawah workers held seminars at mosques and handed out 800,000 pamphlets and 950,000 cool water bottles to the pilgrims. Over 6.5 million text messages on awareness and guidance were sent. Half a million copies of the Koran were handed out at the holy sites and 100,000 cool water bottles at Arafat and 50,000 at Muzdalifa.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat revealed that some violations were confirmed at the Hajj.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said some companies committed violations in serving the pilgrims and authorities are holding them to account.

He vowed that his ministry will not be lenient with any shortcoming, especially when it comes to serving the pilgrims.

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Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
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Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)

Kuwait reiterated its commitment to working with the international community to tackle the growing threat of terrorism, highlighting the importance of strengthening global cooperation in this fight.

Meanwhile, the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Representative warned that the number of deaths from terrorist attacks is on the rise, with the latest Global Terrorism Index showing a 22% increase in fatalities in 2023.

Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, cautioned that conflict zones could become breeding grounds for terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.

He spoke at the High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” that began in Kuwait on Monday.

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al Sabah said: “We expect this phase of the Dushanbe Process to strengthen international efforts aimed at creating a secure and stable future for all.”

“Terrorism knows no borders and does not distinguish between countries or religions,” he noted.

The conference will conclude its work Tuesday, with the adoption of the “Kuwait Declaration” which will reflect the discussions and opinions of the participants and will serve as a guiding document for efforts to combat terrorism.

The Crown Prince urged collective action against terrorism and emphasized the need for unity in facing this challenge. He stressed that terrorism and violent extremism are not linked to any religion, culture, or ethnic group.

He also highlighted the critical role of the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Program and the UN Counter-Terrorism Center in boosting border security, providing member states with the necessary expertise to develop comprehensive strategies that integrate counter-terrorism measures.

This approach is vital for effectively addressing emerging threats at borders.

At the conference's opening session, Voronkov stressed that international cooperation in fighting terrorism should guide all parties toward effective coordination and collaboration to secure their countries and prevent terrorist movements across borders.

Voronkov pointed out that the global security situation is changing, with terrorists exploiting border vulnerabilities. Recent reports show that more than 40% of violent incidents and 10% of deaths from political violence occur within 100 kilometers of land borders.

He specifically noted the growing terrorist presence in coastal West African countries like Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, mentioning that violent incidents in border areas have surged by 250% over the past two years.

He also highlighted that the latest Global Terrorism Index indicates a 22% rise in global terrorism-related deaths in 2023, reaching 8,352—the highest number since 2017.

Voronkov cautioned that the travel routes used by groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda pose significant risks, especially in conflict-affected regions like the Sahel, where they can recruit and move individuals across poorly secured borders.