Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ensuring Safety
Hajj has proved a tempting target for terrorists and political protest over the years. In July
1987, Iranian Shiite pilgrims rioted, leading to the deaths of over 400 people; in July
1989, two bombs attributed to Kuwaiti Shiites exploded, killing one pilgrim and wound-
ing 16 others; and in November 2009 thousands of Iranian pilgrims demonstrated against
the Saudi authorities, following widely reported comments by a Sunni Imam in Mecca
that Shiites were not true Muslims.
An estimated 9% to 20% of all pilgrims fail to return home annually, implying an increase in the Saudi
population of a quarter of a million people every four years.
The management of large volumes of people in relatively confined spaces leads to its
own troubles. In July 1990, 1426 pilgrims were trampled to death in a tunnel during a
stampede en route to the plains of Arafat. Fatal incidents have also occurred during stone
throwing at the pillars in Mina Valley. Road accidents and fire (in July 1997, 343 pilgrims
were killed and 1500 injured when tents caught alight) have proved equally challenging to
authorities.
In order to manage the risks as well as possible, 63,000 armed security men patrol
Mecca and Medina and 22,000 are employed in civil defence, showing the extent to which
pilgrim safety is taken seriously.
