Saudi Arabia Halts Pilgrimage; Iran’s VP Diagnosed With Covid-19

The coronavirus is spreading more quickly in Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world after China. DUBAI, UAE — Saudi Arabia, on thursday, banned foreign pilgrims from entering the kingdom to visit Islam’s holy sites over the new coronavirus threat. This will potentially disrupt the plans of millions of pilgrims ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, as the annual hajj pilgrimage looms.

The decision showed the growing concern across the Middle-east regarding the virus, as Iran confirmed that infected cases in the country spiked by 100, to 254. Those with the virus in the Islamic Republic now include Iranian vice-president Masoumeh Ebtekar. A total of 26 people have died so far in Iran, the world’s highest death toll outside of China.

Saudi Arabia’s barring of pilgrims from Mecca, home to the cube-shaped Kaaba, that the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims pray toward five times a day, appeared unprecedented in modern history.

The kingdom’s Al Saud ruling family stakes its legitimacy in overseeing and protecting the sites. Authorities also suspended entry to travellers from nations affected by the new virus who hold tourist visas for the kingdom.

It appears that Saudi officials are worried about the risk of pilgrims spreading the virus as they had in Iran. The virus’s epicentre in the Islamic Republic is the holy city of Qom, where the faithful, in reverence, reach out to kiss and touch the famous shrine. That shrine and others have remained open, despite Iran’s civilian government calling for them to be closed.

There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Saudi Arabia amidst the outbreak.

News of the cancellation shocked the Muslim world, as many wait their entire lives for a chance to see the Kaaba and walk along the path of Prophet Muhammad and visit his tomb in Medina.