During Umrah
50-year-old Kurdish pilgrim dies in Mecca after prayer
KALAR—A 50-year-old Kurdish man, Shwan Ali, died in Mecca on Wednesday after performing the noon prayer, according to a traveling friend.
Ali, from Isaiye village near Kalar in Sulaymaniyah, had journeyed to Saudi Arabia for an Umrah pilgrimage when he collapsed on his way back to the hotel. His friend, Ahmed Isai, told 964media that a stroke brought on by his underlying diabetes led to his death.
Umrah—an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time—differs from the Hajj, which is observed on fixed dates and stands as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Ali’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday morning in Mecca after the dawn prayer. His passing marks the eighth death among Kurdistan Region pilgrims in Saudi Arabia since the start of 2025.
