The Facts
Roughly 2M pilgrims on Monday flocked to the tent city of Mina to mark the 1444th Hajj. The five-day religious journey is one of the five pillars of Islam which all Muslims — who are physically and economically able — must to complete at least once in their lifetime.
Participants will travel on Tuesday to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have given his final sermon, and collect ritual stones from Muzdalifa to be used in the symbolic stoning of pillars back in Mina. The journey is concluded with the celebration of the Eid al-Adha holiday.
The Spin
Narrative A
Saudi Arabia has long been host to the Hajj pilgrimage, and has learned extensive amounts about ensuring the safety of attendees. The nation took extraordinary measures during COVID and provided strict safety procedures, backed by my medical personnel, to make sure that such a culturally significant event could go ahead. Preparations and operations will only improve as more pilgrimages pass.
Narrative B
With each year that passes, the health threat to pilgrims attending Hajj worsens due to climate change. The extreme heat conditions during summer in Saudi Arabia may make the risks associated with the pilgrimage unbearable, yet crowds continue to participate in an event known for deadly stampedes and other fatal incidents. Although a significant part of Muslim worship, the safety of this pilgrimage should be scrutinized in the interests of its attendees.