Saudia Arabia urged over one million Muslims to halt preparations for the mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) on Tuesday. The request has caused some to speculate that the pilgrimage may be canceled this year.
“Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims,” Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Banten, Saudi minister of hajj, told state-run Al Ekhbariya television. “But under the current circumstances, as we are talking about the global pandemic … the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens and so we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before doing hajj contracts until the situation is clear.”
“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is prepared to secure the safety of all Muslims and nationals,” Banten added. “That’s why we have requested from all Muslims around the world to hold onto signing any agreements (with tour operators) until we have a clear vision.”
In March, Saudi Arabia issued a similar suggestion to Indonesian pilgrims gearing up for hajj. However, as of March 19, Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Ministry planned to ignore the warning and proceed with travel plans.
In February, Saudi Arabia closed off the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina to foreigners in an effort to curb the spread of the Chinese coronavirus, an unprecedented act. The cities have never been closed off, remaining open even during the 1918 flu pandemic that killed tens of millions worldwide.
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia extended curfew restrictions on Mecca and Medina to 24 hours in a bid to slow the spread of the Chinese coronavirus in the country.
“Full 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina starting from today until further notice,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported, citing an interior ministry source. The cities had previously been under a 15-hour daily curfew.
Saudi authorities have not fully canceled this year’s hajj yet. Should Saudi Arabia decide to cancel this year’s pilgrimage, it would cost the kingdom significant revenue. According to estimates, hajj tourism brings in $12 billion annually for Saudi Arabia. In 2019, hajj attracted 2.5 million people. It was expected to take place in late July this year.
At press time on Thursday, Saudi Arabia had recorded 1,885 infections and 21 deaths from the Chinese coronavirus.
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