Following deaths of pilgrim
Kurdistan Region to take legal action on unauthorized Hajj travel
ERBIL — The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government has announced it will implement legal measures against individuals who facilitate pilgrimages using annual Saudi tourist visas. This decision follows a concerning trend, with 25 Kurdish pilgrims having died in Saudi Arabia; notably, 24 of these deaths occurred among those who traveled on tourist visas.
Nabaz Ismail, the ministry’s spokesperson, stated to 964media, “Post-Hajj, a committee will be established with relevant stakeholders to address the actions of those who have irresponsibly transported people through annual visas. These actions have caused significant hardship to the pilgrims.”
He emphasized that the measures would focus on those facilitating the unauthorized transport, not on the pilgrims themselves.
Ismail pointed out that the lack of proper supervision and support for those traveling on tourist visas contributed to the high death rate. In contrast, officially registered pilgrims benefit from a supervision ratio of one supervisor for every 47 individuals, coupled with comprehensive medical support, ensuring well-managed accommodations and food provisions.
Scorching heat in Saudi Arabia during this year’s Hajj season have been identified as a major factor in the increased mortality rate. Over 1000 people have reportedly died in Saudi Arabia on this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
Karwan Stuni, spokesperson for the KRG’s Hajj and Umrah Directorate, told 964media that the official number of this year’s Hajj pilgrims stands at 4,685. Of these, 1,640 traveled by land between May 27 and June 5, 2024. He also highlighted that some individuals, whose exact numbers are unknown, opted to use unofficial channels and one-year tourist visas for the pilgrimage.
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