An Iranian Red Crescent official announced that the number of Iranian pilgrims who died during this year's Hajj has risen to 24. Ali Marashi, head of the Medical Center for Hajj and Pilgrimage of the Iranian Red Crescent, stated on Saturday, July 9, that 66 Iranian pilgrims in critical condition have also been returned to Iran for further treatment. The latest official statistics published by Iranian media at the beginning of July indicated that since the beginning of the Hajj until the end of the first Friday of July 1402, a total of 17 pilgrims who traveled from Iran to Saudi Arabia had lost their lives. Saudi Arabia had not officially commented on the deaths until about a week ago and had not provided any statistics. However, on July 4, Saudi officials officially confirmed that during this year's Hajj, which took place in extreme heat, more than 1,300 pilgrims lost their lives, 83% of whom did not have official permits to perform Hajj. According to Arab diplomats speaking to AFP, the main cause of the deaths among pilgrims is heatstroke, and a report from the Saudi National Meteorological Center indicates that temperatures in Mecca this year reached as high as 52 degrees Celsius. Hajj permits are allocated to countries based on a quota system and are distributed through a lottery. Even for those who can obtain Hajj permits, the high costs of travel encourage them to go for Hajj without permits, although they face the risk of arrest and deportation if caught. Unauthorized pilgrims often lacked access to facilities such as air-conditioned tents. Saudi officials announced before Hajj that they had expelled hundreds of thousands of unauthorized pilgrims from Mecca. The deceased included individuals from over 10 countries, from the USA to Indonesia, and their numbers are being updated by these countries. AFP previously reported that more than half of the deceased were from Egypt. The Egyptian Prime Minister recently ordered the cancellation of permits for 16 travel and tourism companies due to 'illegally sending pilgrims to Hajj.'
The Number of Iranian Pilgrims Who Died During Hajj Reaches 24
The number of Iranian pilgrims who died during this year's Hajj has increased to 24, with a total of over 1,300 deaths reported among pilgrims, primarily due to heatstroke. Many of the deceased did not have official permits for Hajj, raising concerns about unauthorized pilgrimages and the conditions faced by these individuals. This situation highlights the challenges and dangers associated with the Hajj pilgrimage, particularly in extreme weather conditions.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The number of Iranian pilgrims who died during this year's Hajj has risen to 24, with over 1,300 total deaths reported among pilgrims, primarily due to extreme heat and unauthorized pilgrimages.
- 66 Iranian pilgrims were returned to Iran in critical condition for further treatment.
- The majority of deaths among pilgrims were attributed to heatstroke, exacerbated by unauthorized pilgrimages.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage that attracts millions, but it also poses risks, especially in extreme weather. Unauthorized pilgrimages are common due to high costs and limited permits.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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