Officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Jordan announced on Sunday that due to rising temperatures in Saudi Arabia, at least 19 Iranian and Jordanian pilgrims died while performing rituals in Saudi Arabia. Pirhossein Kolivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent, stated without mentioning the cause of death for the Iranian pilgrims: 'So far, five Iranian pilgrims have lost their lives during this year's Hajj in Mecca and Medina.' According to a statement from the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 'fourteen Jordanian pilgrims died during the Hajj ceremony, and 17 others are missing.' The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed that these 14 individuals 'died due to the severe heat wave' and as a result of heatstroke. This year, approximately 1.8 million Muslims are participating in the Hajj, while temperatures in Saudi Arabia have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. A significant portion of the rituals takes place outdoors and on foot, creating challenges, especially for the elderly. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has called on pilgrims to hold 'disavowal' ceremonies against Israel and the United States during the Hajj; a request that has provoked anger from some Saudi officials and media. The Saudi government expelled six 'media' personnel affiliated with the Iranian pilgrims' delegation.
At least five Iranians and 14 Jordanians died during the Hajj ceremony
At least 19 Iranian and Jordanian pilgrims have died during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia due to extreme heat, with 14 Jordanian pilgrims confirmed dead from heatstroke. The incident raises concerns about the safety of pilgrims, especially the elderly, amid rising temperatures and political tensions surrounding the Hajj.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
During the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, at least 19 Iranian and Jordanian pilgrims died due to extreme heat conditions. The Iranian Red Crescent reported five Iranian deaths, while the Jordanian Ministry confirmed 14 deaths from heatstroke.
- Temperatures in Saudi Arabia exceeded 40 degrees Celsius during the Hajj.
- Approximately 1.8 million Muslims participated in this year's Hajj.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage that draws millions of Muslims, but extreme weather poses risks, particularly to vulnerable populations like the elderly. Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia often surface during this period due to differing political and religious views.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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