Over two million hajj pilgrims started performing rituals for Hajj pilgrimage 2018 with convoys arriving early Saturday morning in preparation to ascend Mount Arafat on Monday.
Security and health taskforces and agencies overlooking the well-being of Hajj pilgrims stepped up their efforts, bracing for on-spot service of pilgrims visiting holy sites and staying at inland camps.
On the 9th of the month of Dhul-Hijjah pilgrims go to Arafat from Mina, for the most important part of the Hajj.
Interior Ministry Security Spokesman Major General Mansour al-Turki said that the overall number of Hajj pilgrims exceeded two million, saying that the General Department of Statistics will soon announce the final official figures on all pilgrims who were able to perform Hajj.
Maj.Gen. Al-Turki, speaking evening to a joint press conference held in Mina, said that everyone at this stage is ready to receive pilgrims in the holy places, to enable more than two million pilgrims to move from Mecca to Mina, and ascend Mount Arafat
For his part, Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz al-Sheikh expressed surprised towards Qatar laying prohibitions for Qatari pilgrims willing to perform Hajj this year. He added that the prohibition falls under false pretexts.
“This is their business,” he said while speaking at a press conference.
Defending the right to all Muslims to perform religious duties, Sheikh said that even Israeli authorities, arch-foe of Palestinians, do not obstruct Muslim Palestinians from their prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque.
“Israel has not prevented thousands of Palestinians from traveling to perform their duties,” he said.
He stressed that his country accommodates all Muslims in the world wishing to perform Hajj so that their journey is carried out easily.
“This is what this country (Saudi Arabia) is doing clearly, thanks to the close follow-up by Saudi leadership.”
On the program set out for incoming guests, Sheikh said that the program reflects the clear image of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz's position on the love of all Muslims from all over the world and his desire for the all people of the Islamic world to have equal opportunity to perform Hajj pilgrimage.
It is worth noting that King Salman bin Abdulaziz, recognizing the suffering of Palestinians, has hosted Palestinian Hajj pilgrims at his own expense.
