Mecca, hundreds of thousands of entries denied for the Hajj. Turkey asks for more visas

Over 2.5 million Muslims prepare for the annual pilgrimage that begins tomorrow.  At least 5 thousand faithful from Africa rejected for fear of Ebola.  About 350 thousand people will ensure safety of pilgrims.  Despite the tensions with Tehran, the arrival of almost 89,000 people from Iran is expected.

Riyadh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - More than 2.5 million Muslims start the Hajj tomorrow, the annual major pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, which will end on August 14 and will be followed by the sacrifice festival (Eid al-adha  ).  A crowd of faithful from all over the world has already begun to gather in recent days in the holy city and heart of Islam.  "It is my first time here", the 40-year-old Indonesian Sobar emphasizes, in a rudimentary Arab and "I feel such a strong and meaningful atmosphere".

If at least 1.8 million pilgrims have already arrived in Mecca, local governor Prince Khalid Al-Faisal says that 329 thousand people have been prevented from entering the holy city due to lack of permits.  Authorities have stopped 144 thousand vehicles also without authorization and 15 drivers have been arrested for "illegal transport" of pilgrims.  181 offices that made false visas were closed down.

According to some sources, at least 5 thousand pilgrims' visas from Africa were canceled.  Riyadh's decided "not to grant more visas to Africans" because of the "ongoing Ebola epidemic" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Measures have been put in place to prevent overcrowding and accidents.  In 2015, around 2,300 faithful were killed in the worst crowd that ever occurred at the Hajj;  a drama that provoked the compassion of the faithful of all religions, including Pope Francis who expressed closeness to the victims and families.

To prevent further disasters, the government has mobilized over 350,000 people from different sectors, from the police to the emergency department.  Prince Khalid also wanted to point out that Saudi Arabia "is not responsible" for the obstacles posed by the Qatari government that, in fact, would have prevented its citizens from participating in the major pilgrimage.  A new chapter of the two-year war between Riyadh and Doha.

This year the pilgrimage takes place in a climate of growing tension in the Middle Eastern region, above all for the economic, political and religious clash between Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shiite).  Riyadh, along with the US ally, accuses Tehran of having hatched attacks and sabotage operations against vehicles and vessels of rival countries.  Accusations that the Islamic Republic strongly rejects.  Despite the divisions and the absence of diplomatic relations between the two Muslim world powers, in the next few days at least 88550 Iranian pilgrims will go to Mecca to participate in the Hajj.

Turkey has requested at least 3 thousand more visas for next year.  Remzi Bircan, head of the pilgrimage service for Ankara, points out that "there is a long line waiting: around 2 million and 130 thousand people have pre-registered.  Places are limited and the Saudis impose a quota, but the goal is to expand it by 3,000 people by 2020 ".