The Hindu : International : Millions throng Mecca for Haj

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005

International

International

Millions throng Mecca for Haj

MECCA, JAN. 18. More than two million Muslim pilgrims began streaming out of Mecca towards Mena today, the first day of a Haj pilgrimage marked by grief over the Asian tsunami disaster and security fears.

This year's Haj has a particular poignancy for thousands of pilgrims from Asia, where most of the world's one billion Muslims live, after December's devastating tsunami.

Tragedies

Tragedy has struck the Haj before.

Saudi Arabia has cranked up its largest security operation ever for the ritual, a once in a lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim, fearing attacks or deadly stampedes like one last year that killed 250 people.

Indonesian officials have said they expect the country to reach its 205,000-pilgrim quota despite the killer waves that killed more than 175,000 people.

Some prominent clerics in Saudi Arabia have suggested the disaster was Indonesia's punishment for its Western-style mixed-sex beaches, bars and nightclubs. But most Muslims said the Koran did not support such a view.

``Although the Koran does talk about God using natural phenomenon to punish people who have gone astray, it is not for us to say or to know,'' said Sayeed Mohamed, a preacher from South Africa where Islam is growing fast.

Tight security

Other pilgrims were more concerned with key issues to Muslims, such as Israel's occupation of Jerusalem's holy sites. ``We saw the tsunami disaster on television, but it's far from us. We care about Palestine,'' said Nasser Abdullah from Yemen.

About 50,000 policemen and 7,000 special force personnel have been deployed around Mecca to prevent stampedes, protests or attacks. The pro-U.S. Saudi monarchy, which is under attack from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, fears militants might even strike during the pilgrimage.

The Government also fears protests by pilgrims from Iran and Libya, which Riyadh accuses of trying to assassinate Crown Prince Abdullah.

New measures at the site include signs warning of overcrowding, extra emergency exits and a unit to bulldoze makeshift roadside pilgrim camps, which the Government blamed for the overcrowding behind last year's deadly crush. — Reuters

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