www射-国产免费一级-欧美福利-亚洲成人福利-成人一区在线观看-亚州成人

Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
World
Home / World / Middle East

Saudi Arabia prepares for hajj as Gulf tensions simmer

China Daily Global | Updated: 2019-08-08 14:57
Share
Share - WeChat
Pilgrims touch the golden door of the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. AMR NABIL/AP

MECCA, Saudi Arabia - More than 2.5 million Muslims on Friday will begin the hajj pilgrimage to the Islamic holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, against a backdrop of tensions in the Gulf.

Crowds of worshippers have already begun to gather in Mecca in the days ahead of the hajj, the annual focal point of the Islamic calendar.

"It's the first time I've felt something so strongly - It's striking," said 40-year-old Indonesian pilgrim Sobar in rudimentary Arabic.

More than 1.8 million visitors had arrived by midday local time on Tuesday, authorities said.

The faithful from across the world wore flowing white robes as they descended on the holy city located in the west of Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims will undertake religious rites that have remained unchanged since the founding of Islam 14 centuries ago.

"Islam united us. We are all together, ... so that's why I'm very happy," said Leku Abibu, 46, a Ugandan mechanic who wore a beige salwar kameez, an outfit of loosefitting pants and tunic.

"I'm enjoying it here."

This year's hajj takes place amid strains in the Gulf region exacerbated by a series of attacks on oil tankers, drone strikes and interceptions of maritime traffic on the high seas.

Saudi, the Gulf's leading power, and its ally Washington accuse Iran of being behind the attacks and sabotage operations against commercial shipping. Teheran has repeatedly denied those accusations.

Despite the tensions in the region, around 88,550 Iranian pilgrims are due to take part in the hajj this year, according to Iran's Tasnim News Agency.

The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and Muslims must perform it at least once in their lives if they can afford to.

"There are all nations of the world, all languages. There are no differences between us," said Nurul Jamal, a 61-year-old pilgrim from India.

While waiting for the beginning of the hajj, worshippers roam the esplanade or pray in the mosque in stifling heat.

Temperatures can surpass 40 C and some pilgrims carry sun shades.

Large misting machines installed at the holy sites help to make the heat more bearable.

Guards in khaki fastidiously lead worshippers to their five daily prayers.

Traffic in the city is extremely heavy and the air quality is poor.

The odor of exhaust fumes mixes with the smell of bitumen emitted by the heated road surface. Many pilgrims wear face masks.

Away from prayers, many of the faithful visit the innumerable shops that speckle the holy city. Even though the hajj lasts only five days, many pilgrims arrive weeks before and linger in the city.

Religious tourism brings in revenues worth billions of dollars.

But the vast gathering also presents major logistical and safety challenges.

In 2015, about 2,300 worshippers were killed in the worst stampede in the history of the hajj.

Since then, Saudi Arabia has sought to reassure pilgrims, deploying tens of thousands of security officers and installing cameras to oversee every corner of the holy sites.

The total number of arrivals is limited, however, as each Muslim country receives a pilgrim quota.

Some worshippers have spent years on waiting lists - sometimes as long as a decade - just to perform their religious duty.

Agence France-Presse

Most Viewed in 24 Hours
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
主站蜘蛛池模板: 萌白酱香蕉白丝护士服喷浆 | 日韩一区二区天海翼 | 一级国产| 日本午夜高清视频 | 美国成人免费视频 | 国产日产久久 | 日韩免费高清一级毛片 | 久久精品国产欧美日韩99热 | 国产一区二区三区在线观看免费 | 国产成人亚洲毛片 | 日本在线亚州精品视频在线 | 蜜桃日本一道无卡不码高清 | 亚洲精品无码专区在线播放 | 在线观看不卡一区 | 国内精品久久久久影院网站 | 综合亚洲一区二区三区 | 91视频久久久久 | 国产伦久视频免费观看视频 | 草草影| 亚洲精品日韩专区在线观看 | 精品日本亚洲一区二区三区 | 国产精品久久国产精品99 | 一级大黄美女免费播放 | 国产精品久久久久久麻豆一区 | 中国一级毛片在线观看 | www.日本在线观看 | 色播亚洲视频在线观看 | 亚洲狠狠ady亚洲精品大秀 | 乱子伦一级在线现看 | 久久久久久毛片免费播放 | 欧美色xxxx | 欧美成人看片一区二区三区尤物 | 免费萌白酱国产一区二区三区 | 爱福利极品盛宴 | 欧美性猛交xxxxxxxx软件 | 欧美成人午夜在线全部免费 | 亚洲在线视频观看 | 日韩亚洲欧美综合一区二区三区 | 欧美国产在线观看 | 成人欧美一区二区三区视频 | 精品国产区一区二区三区在线观看 |