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A28 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 28 July 2020
Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for downsized hajj amid pandemic

By AYA BATRAWY tige and influence among
Associated Press Muslims globally. Saudi Ara-
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- bia has never canceled
ates (AP) — Muslim pil- the hajj in the nearly 90
grims have started arriving years since the country was
in Mecca for a drastically founded.
scaled-down hajj, as Saudi King Salman, who typi-
authorities balance the cally oversees the hajj from
kingdom's oversight of one Mecca, underwent surgery
of Islam's key pillars and the to remove his gallbladder
safety of visitors in the face at a hospital in the capital,
of a global pandemic. Riyadh, the royal court said
The hajj, which begins last week. The 84-year-old
on Wednesday, normally monarch was to remain at
draws around 2.5 million the hospital to recover and
people for five intense days be observed by doctors.
of worship in one of the For the first time in Saudi
world's largest gatherings history, no pilgrims from
of people from around the abroad were permitted to
world. take part in the hajj due to
This year, Saudi Arabia's Hajj concerns about the coro-
Ministry has said between navirus and overcrowding.
1,000 and 10,000 people Pilgrims arrive to King Abdulaziz Airport for the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, It's a stark departure from
already residing in the Saturday, July 25, 2020. previous years, when some
kingdom will be allowed Associated Press 2 million pilgrims from more
to perform the pilgrimage. her home and tested her when she found out she religious exercises to keep than 160 countries flocked
Two-thirds of those pilgrims for the COVID-19 virus. She was selected. Daud said busy. to Mecca for the spiritual
will be from among foreign was then given an elec- she's praying for the end The Saudi government is rituals, mostly from across
residents in Saudi Arabia tronic bracelet that moni- of COVID-19 and for unity covering the expenses of Asia and Africa.
and one-third will be Saudi tors her movements, and among Muslims around the all pilgrims this year, provid- Although the hajj often
citizens. told to quarantine for sev- world. ing them with meals, hotel draws all age groups, pil-
The kingdom has one of the eral days at home. "I am confident that safety accommodation, trans- grims this year were re-
Mideast's largest outbreaks After that, Daud was measures are being taken portation and health care. quired to be between the
of the coronavirus, with moved to a hotel in Mec- and that the only thing that Normally, the hajj can cost ages of 20 and 50, and in
nearly 269,000 reported ca, where she remains in we need to do as pilgrims thousands of dollars for pil- good health.
infections, including 2,760 self-isolation, still wearing is follow instructions, and try grims who save for a life- The physically demand-
deaths. the electronic wristband. our best to support each time for the journey. It also ing rituals of the hajj offer
Fatin Daud, a 25-year-old A large box of food is de- other," she said. generates billions of dollars a profound experience for
Malaysian who is study- livered to her hotel room While self-isolating has in revenue each year for Muslims, with the faithful
ing Arabic in Saudi Arabia, three times a day as she been emotionally chal- Saudi Arabia. often weeping, their palms
was among the select few prepares to begin the hajj. lenging, Daud said she is Saudi kings have for gen- stretched toward the sky,
whose application for hajj "It was unbelievable. It felt part of a group of about 10 erations assumed titles as in prayer and repentance.
was approved. After her surreal because I was not Malaysian and Singapor- custodians of Islam's holiest The hajj is required of all
selection, Saudi Health expecting to get it," she ean pilgrims connecting sites, and their oversight of able-bodied Muslims once
Ministry officials came to said of her excitement online and sharing tips and the hajj is a source of pres- in a lifetime.q

Malaysia says 26 Rohingya feared drowned found on islet

ern islet after they were ini- were believed to have desh. Muslim-dominated
tially feared drowned after been transported by local Malaysia has been a com-
jumping off a fishing boat. fishermen from a main ves- mon destination of boats
The Malaysian Maritime sel further out at sea and arranged by traffickers
Enforcement Agency let off near Langkawi so who promise the refugees
launched a search for the they could sneak in unde- a better life abroad.
group after one Rohingya tected. Last month, Malaysian au-
migrant found Saturday The Rohingya have been thorities detained 269 Ro-
on the islet off the northern detained for further in- hingya and found a body
resort island of Langkawi vestigation and will be on board a suspected
told investigators that at handed to the immigra- smuggling boat off Lang-
least 24 other Rohingya tion department, he said kawi that they said had
were missing. in a statement. Two other been intentionally dam-
Following further interro- Rohingya migrants were aged so it couldn't be
gation, the agency found also arrested for suspect- turned back to sea. The
In this photo taken Sunday, July 26, 2020, by the Malaysian 26 Rohingya refugees hid- ed trafficking. Malaysian Maritime En-
Maritime Enforcement Agency, shows rescued Rohingya ing on the islet on Sunday, Hundreds of thousands of forcement Agency later
refugees on a beach on Rebak Island off the resort island of said senior agency offi- Rohingya Muslims have said that the 269 were
Langkawi, Malaysia. cial Zawawi Abdullah. The fled Buddhist-majority transferred from a larger
Associated Press group included 12 men, 10 Myanmar due to a military vessel on which dozens of
KUALA LUMPUR, Malay- found 26 Rohingya Mus- women and four children, crackdown, and many people were believed to
sia (AP) — Malaysian au- lims, including women and officials said. live in densely crowded have died and their bod-
thorities said Monday they children, hiding on a north- Zawawi said the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangla- ies thrown into the sea.q