The deaths of more than 1000 pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj have put a spotlight on an underworld of illicit tour operators, smugglers and swindlers who profit off Muslims desperate to meet their religious duty to travel to Mecca.
Al-Jalajel’s remarks came after days of silence from Saudi authorities over the fatalities during the Hajj, an arduous and deeply spiritual ritual that capable Muslims are encouraged to perform in their lifetimes. Several countries that recorded large numbers of pilgrim deaths have moved quickly to address the fallout over the past few days.
And in Jordan, which recorded the deaths of at least 99 pilgrims, the public prosecutor opened an investigation into illegal Hajj routes and the people profiting from them., Hajj tour operators, pilgrims and relatives of the dead said the number of undocumented pilgrims appeared to have been driven up by rising economic desperation in countries such as Egypt and Jordan.
He said she had not understood that she was violating the rules when she travelled to Saudi Arabia last month.