Elderly woman from Akre passes away during Umrah in Mecca

NEWSROOM — An 83-year-old woman from Duhok governorate’s Akre, identified as Fatima Hussein, passed away on Monday in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, while performing Umrah rituals. The Directorate of Hajj and Umrah in Duhok reported that her funeral prayer will be conducted in Mecca, where she will also be buried.

Abdullah Bandi, an official at the Department of Hajj and Umrah in Duhok, told 964media that the agency was informed by the organizing company about the incident.

“The cause of her death is still unknown, as medical examination results have not yet been released,” Bandi said. “Following the conclusion of procedures, her body will be buried in Mecca within a few hours.”

According to Bandi, Fatima Hussein is the first pilgrim to pass away during this year’s Umrah season.

However, over 25 pilgrims from the Kurdistan Region lost their lives during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, with many  traveling to Saudi Arabia on tourist visas arranged by local tourism companies.

Umrah is a religious pilgrimage to Mecca, performed by Muslims. Unlike Hajj, which is obligatory for those who are able and occurs during specific dates in the Islamic lunar calendar, Umrah can be undertaken at any time of the year and is not mandatory.