Saudi Arabia: Hajj passes without pilgrims from abroad

This year, due to the pandemic, the pilgrimage to the Muslim shrines in Saudi Arabia is taking place without believers from other countries, including from Northern Caucasus. The number of Hajj participants was reduced from 2.5 million to ten thousand.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that this June Saudi Arabian authorities announced the cancellation of the 2020 Hajj for foreign pilgrims to Muslim shrines in Mecca and Medina due to coronavirus. Residents of Dagestan, Chechnya and the Krasnodar Territory were promised refunding of their paid travels; while in Kabardino-Balkaria, they didn't take money at all. The Muftiates of Chechnya and Dagestan asked believers not to take the money back and reserve them for the next year. Chechen believers preferred to take their money back, referring to the "unstable situation."

The Hajj participants began their pilgrimage to Mecca on July 29 under special precautions. In particular, the pilgrims are given sterile clothing and masks; and they also observe the social distance, writes The New York Times.

This year, the pilgrimage is performed only by residents of Saudi Arabia, but 70% of the quota is given to those who have citizenship of other states. The remaining 30% are local health workers and law enforcers who have had coronavirus. In this way, the country's authorities decided to thank them for their dangerous work.