How the Activities of the 'Mediators and Smugglers' Led to the Death of Over a Thousand Pilgrims During Hajj?

Security agencies in several Arab countries have arrested dozens of suspects involved in the illegal dispatch of pilgrims following the deaths of over 1,300 pilgrims during this year's Hajj in Mecca. The suspects are accused of operating 'illegal Hajj tours' and 'human trafficking.' Saudi officials confirmed that the majority of the deceased died from 'heatstroke,' as temperatures during the Hajj reached an unprecedented near 52 degrees Celsius. Most of those who died were participating illegally and without permits. The highest number of casualties came from Egypt, with reports indicating at least 658 Egyptian citizens died during the Hajj. Approximately 450 brokers deemed responsible for the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims have been arrested. The Hajj took place amid the ongoing war in Gaza and extreme heat conditions. Egyptian authorities have compiled lists of brokers currently outside the country, who will be arrested upon their return. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ordered the formation of a 'crisis committee' to address this issue, leading to the revocation of licenses for 16 travel agencies that circumvented regulations. Jordanian officials have also arrested suspects following the deaths of dozens of Jordanian citizens, while Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed the Minister of Religious Affairs after confirming the deaths of 49 Tunisians, most of whom entered Saudi Arabia on tourist visas without Hajj permits. The significant number of casualties has raised questions regarding the performance of travel agencies responsible for the transportation and accommodation of foreign pilgrims. According to Saudi Health Minister Fahd al-Jalajel, 83% of the deceased were participating illegally. The New York Times highlighted that the deaths have drawn attention to the underground world of illegal tour operators and traffickers exploiting those seeking to fulfill their religious duties. Legal pilgrims are transported in equipped buses and rest in well-furnished tents, while illegal pilgrims face harsh weather conditions, increasing their risk of heat-related illnesses. Saudi Arabia does not typically release annual mortality statistics for Hajj, making it unclear whether this year's death toll is unprecedented. In previous years, such as last year, at least 774 Indonesian citizens died during Hajj. A Saudi official indicated that this year, over 1.8 million legal pilgrims attended, while around 400,000 attempted to enter illegally. This means that one in five pilgrims circumvented the established conditions for participation. Since 2019, Saudi Arabia has broadly issued tourist visas, allowing thousands to enter illegally during Hajj at lower costs. In 2023, 1.8 million legal and approximately 100,000 illegal pilgrims participated in Hajj, with over eight million total attendees, of whom more than six million were foreign.