The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the world’s largest mass gatherings, occurred in Saudi Arabia from June 14 to 19. The Hajj is considered the crowning achievement of every Muslim’s religious obligations and aspirations, as they travel thousands of kilometers to the holy city of Mecca to perform the rites, just as the Prophet Muhammad did nearly fourteen centuries ago. However, this unique journey for financially and physically able Muslims turned into a real tragedy. More than 1,300 people died as a result of the region’s extreme heat. As organizer of the event, Saudi Arabia was responsible for ensuring that the pilgrimage ran smoothly and for protecting pilgrims in the best possible way.
The pilgrimage is notoriously complex, due to the extreme heat in one of the world’s most arid regions, where temperatures exceed 50 degrees. Saudi Arabia has been accustomed to such mass gatherings for decades, and the dangers of extreme temperatures for the human body are well known and must be avoided at all costs. It seems inconceivable to die for these religious convictions, yet this has been the fate reserved for over 1,300 pilgrims.
The Kingdom’s Ministry of Health claimed to have provided specialized treatment services, including services for those who had not obtained official authorization to perform the hajj. The country argued that 83% of those who died were not authorized to perform the hajj and had traveled long distances under the sun, without adequate shelter or comfort. This argument is not unanimously accepted nor sufficient to justify such a catastrophe.
As the country organizing the pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia was responsible for ensuring the event’s security, which involved securing the event for all pilgrims – authorized or not. Saudi Arabia argued that the air-conditioned facilities and services provided were sufficient for the number of pilgrims who had traveled to Saudi Arabia legally. However, Saudi Arabia should have anticipated an increase in the number of believers and should have adapted its services accordingly.