February 13, 2004

ARAB AND ISLAMIC APPRAISAL FOR THE EFFORTS EXERTED BY THE KINGDOM IN THE SERVICE OF THE PILGRIMS. THE SAUDI MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION: THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES' DECISION TO DEVELOP MAKKAH, MADINAH AND THE SACRED PLACES POINTS TO THE CARE GIVEN TO HAJJ AND PILGRIMS. THE KUWAITI COUNCIL OF MINISTERS LAUDS THE EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES DURING THE HAJJ SEASON. Dr. Fuad Ibn Abdul Salam Al-Farsi, the Minister of Culture and Information, held a reception party in honor of media representatives who took part in the coverage of this year's Hajj activities. Ali Ahmed Al-Siyani, representative of Sanaa Broadcasting Station, Imadu Lamin of the Senegal's Television, and Mohammed Mad Hussein, a senior official at Malaysia's Ministry of Information, lauded, in separate speeches, the services extended by the Saudi authorities to the pilgrims. Addressing the gathering at Crown Plaza hotel in Jeddah, the Minister of Culture and Information extended the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General to the guests. He said pilgrimage and pilgrims are the core of concern of the Saudi government over the year. The Minister highlighted the prepared plans of the Hajj authorities to receive, serve and see off the pilgrims. In this regard, he cited the most recent decision by King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz to form Makkah, Madinah and Sacred Places Development Authority. He warned against re-reporting of anti-Islam biased campaigns quoting foreign media. At the end of the party, the guests expressed thanks to the Saudi leadership and government for the care and comfort extended to them while performing Hajj or covering its developments. Then they had dinner held by the Ministry of Culture and Information. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Fuad Ibn Abdul Salam Al-Farsi had paid an inspection tour to his Ministry's departments working in Arafat to get reassured of their performance and coverage of pilgrims' standing in Arafat. Dr. Al-Farsi began his tour by inspecting the TV and Radio tower which broadcasts the standing in Arafat, performance of Dhohor and Assr prayers and the preparations for moving from Arafat to Muzdalifa. Then, Dr. Al-Farsi visited the information center which has been established to serve reporters representing International, Muslim and Arab media. He also visited Saudi Press Agency (SPA)'s office in Arafat where he was briefed on its journalistic work during Hajj. The minister checked Hajj's news and activities covered by SPA and published in its site on the internet. He checked Radio's studio and television technical equipment to broadcast pilgrim's standing in Arafat through TV out-units. During the tour, Al-Farsi was accompanied by Director-General of SPA Dr. Aiyed Al Raddadi; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information for Foreign Information Dr. Saleh Al Namlah; Assistant Undersecretary for television Affairs Tareq Ibn Ahmed Riri; Assistant Undersecretary in Makkah region Adnan Falodah; and Assistant Undersecretary for Planning Affairs Helal Al Helal. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Fuad Ibn Abdul Salam Al-Farsi said that the Kingdom is honored by Almighty Allah to host the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah, noting that the Kingdom has a great responsibility towards more than a billion Muslims of whom nearly two millions come every year to perform Hajj. In a statement to media representatives in Arafat here today, Dr. Al-Farsi welcomed all respected television or broadcasting channels from any country to cover Hajj, noting that the government has been pursuing the policy of transparency and no black-out of information coverage for years. He cited the national dialogue under the patronage of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, which gave more transparency and greater frankness, stressing that there is no news black-outs. He noted that the image of Muslims has been shaky since the events of September 11 as a result of the U.S. media and not owing to Muslims themselves. He pointed out that if 30 or 40 individuals have committed terrorist actions, that does not mean that millions of Muslims are terrorists. But on the contrary, he said that Islam derived its name from peace. It is the religion of peace, tolerance and respect for all other religions. He hoped that U.S. media be truthful, objective and credible, but not as it is now, adding the western media tries to strip Islam of its characteristics and justice. The Minister of Culture and Information added that the terrorist actions happening in the Kingdom have been similarly taking place everywhere in the world such as Europe, America, and Arab countries; pointing out that terrorism has no certain religion or nationality. It exists everywhere, he stated. Dr. Al-Farsi warned from making generalization that Saudi Arabia is unstable as a result of attacks staged by a handful of individuals in the Kingdom against peaceful citizens. He said that the number of pilgrims coming from abroad reached nearly 1,450,000 and the total number of pilgrims from the Kingdom and abroad was nearly 2 millions. Dr. Al-Farsi said that our doors have been open to the western media for years. We have received 800 persons from great information networks until last year. We welcome anyone who wants to come and find facts since we are proud of what we have and since we have nothing to conceal. It is better that media representatives come and directly dispatch their news instead of taking them from other sources that might give wrong views about the Kingdom. He noted that the western media unjustly deals with Muslims and Islam in portraying them in a strange way. Dr. Al-Farsi stressed that preparations for this year's Hajj have been the best, as is customary every year, expressing his satisfaction over the services extended to pilgrims. On the other hand the Ministry of Hajj has held its annual ceremony in Makkah in honour of Heads of official Hajj missions. The ceremony started with readings from the Holy Quran then the Secretary General of the Omani Mufti office Ahmed Ibn Saud Al Sayabi delivered a speech on behalf of Hajj mission in the Gulf area, the head of Egyptian mission Dr Majed Ibrahim delivered the speech of the Arab Hajj mission in which he highlighted the existing deep-rooted relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and all Arab countries, while the Head of the Senegalese Hajj mission delivered the speech of non- Arab African mission and the Head of the Malaysian mission delivered the speech of the Southeastern Asia. The speech of the Southern Asian missions was delivered by the head of the Pakistani Hajj mission while the Head of the Turkish Hajj mission delivered the speech of Turkey and European Muslims. The heads of mission praised the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said cooperation is existing between the Saudi concerned authorities and all concerned authorities in Muslim countries to facilitate procedures pertaining to pilgrims. They lauded the existing excellent telecommunications facilities in the Holy Places, the excellent medical services in the Kingdom which are also provided to the guests of God. They noted that Hajj visas were issued in a record time without complications or obstacles for tourism companies as well as for the governmental and private establishments in the shortest possible time in their countries. They expressed satisfaction for the development achievements accomplished in the Holy Places and they lauded the great efforts being exerted by the Kingdom to ensure comforts of the pilgrims. Saudi Arabia will invite some 750 close relatives of the Jamrat victims to perform Hajj next year, Hajj Minister Iyad Madani told the reception organized in honor of the delegates of foreign Hajj missions. "The Hajj Ministry will invite three family members of each pilgrim who died in Sunday's Jamrat stampede to perform Hajj next year," the minister told the ceremony at Makkah InterContinental. Madani also announced that Saudi Arabia will deduct the number of overstayers who performed Hajj without a permit from each country's quota of Haj pilgrims next year. Over-stayers have been partly blamed for the crush that killed 251 pilgrims and injured more than 240 others. On the other hand more than 1.5 million bottles of holy water from the spring of Zamzam in the Grand Mosque in Makkah were distributed among pilgrims departing after the Hajj. The Zamzam United Office has begun handing out the water to pilgrims leaving the holy lands on the Makkah-Jeddah and Makkah-Madina highways, the office said. Large tanks containing the holy water were also placed around Makkah's main roads where pilgrim convoys were gathering for departure, the office said, adding that the water had been sterilized to ensure safety. Bottled Zamzam is offered to pilgrims on arrival, during standing in Arafat and finally on departure. More than 590,000 heads of sheep, camels and cows were sacrificed during this year's Hajj under the Kingdom's project for utilization of the sacrificial meat. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Ahmad Ibn Mohammad Ali said that the sacrificial meat of 587,723 heads of sheep and 5,076 camels and cows was collected under the project. He added that the sacrificial meat of the 32,000 heads of cattle had been distributed to pilgrims and the needy and poor people staying in Makkah, noting that the rest of the sacrificial meat is being shipped through sea and dispatched via land routes to a number of Islamic countries for the benefit of the needy and poor people there. Meanwhile the Shoura Council has resumed its session under the chairmanship of Dr Saleh Ibn Abdullah Ibn Humaid who opened the 62nd session of the council with a speech in which he congratulated the members of the council on the occasion of Eid Al Adha and conveyed the greetings of the Shoura Council on the occasion to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General. In his speech Dr Saleh Ibn Humaid expressed sorrow for the incident that happened at the Jamrat bridge and said the Hajj season went according to plan. He added that the Shoura Council had invited nine parliamentary delegations with 24 personalities form Federal Russia, Kirkastan, Benin, Kazakistan, Bengladesh, Bosnia Herzegovina, Albania, Azerbaidjan and Djibouti. Dr Hamoud said he met with the delegations separately in Makkah and they expressed their thanks and gratitude for the invitation while highlighting the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide all the required facilities to the pilgrims. On the other hand the Kuwaiti Cabinet then extended appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy ‏Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and Saudi authorities for the ‏praiseworthy effort and facilities for pilgrims during the Hajj season. The ministers also praised efforts to develop and expand holy sites.‏ Head of Kuwaiti Hajj Mission Dr. Mohammed ‏Al-Sharhan extolled Saudi Arabia's efforts on organizing the Hajj ‏plan for this year and presenting all facilities and services to ease the pilgrims' task.‏ ‏ Dr. Al-Sharhan said that the Kuwaiti pilgrims had thrown the pebbles ‏ ‏in the third day of Tashriq without any congestion or injuries. ‏ ‏ He extolled the facilities and efforts provided by the Saudi government to ‏make the pilgrimage this year a paragon of order, good planning and swift ‏coordination. ‏Al-Sharhan added that all Kuwaiti pilgrims enjoy good health and returned home at the conclusion of the hajj season without incurring any unpleasant experience. ‏ ‏ He said that the Kuwaiti mission which included 250 members representing the Ministry of health, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Interior Ministry and Foreign Ministry have all worked together in dedication to help ‏the Kuwaiti pilgrims in all their needs.‏ ‏ He extended congratulations to the Saudi leadership for its hospitality and efforts in safeguarding the pilgrims from their arrival until their departure. 634,854 pilgrims of various nationalities left Makkah up to last Tuesday after performing their Hajj rituals. Some of the pilgrims left Makkah for Madinah to visit the Prophet's Mosque, and others left for Jeddah on their way home via King Abdul Aziz International Airport and the Islamic Port of Jeddah. Each pilgrims was provided with a copy of the Holy Quran printed by Madinah-based King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex and a bag of zamzam water in addition to some Islamic booklets and cassettes and photographs of the two Holy Mosques and the Holy Places. Director General of the Branch of the Hajj Ministry in Makkah Eng Abdel-Fattah Ibn Abdul-Shakour said the pilgrims had left Makkah in droves in line with a set time table. 'With the grace of Almighty Allah, and due to the excellent arrangements made by the concerned Saudi authorities, the pilgrims have performed their rituals in comfort and ease, he added He noted that 20,483,223 cubic liter of zamzam water were distributed to the pilgrims up to Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004. Minister of Hajj Iyad Ibn Amin Madani received the Yemeni Minister of Endowments and Guidance and Chairman of Yemeni Hajj delegation, Homuod Mohammed Abbad. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and followed up the procedures of Yemeni pilgrims' departure to their country. Minister Abbad praised the efforts exerted by the Kingdom to provide best services to pilgrims. In a related development, the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars endorsed plans ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz for the upgrade of the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The government announced a day after the stampede plans to expand the Jamrat in Mina where the pilgrims pelt stones at pillars representing the devil for four consecutive days. The plans include the construction of a four-tier bridge over the Jamrat at a cost of $533 million in order to boost its capacity to 160,000 people. "After careful study the council has decided the importance of modernizing the Jamrat to ensure the safety of the pilgrims, and the government must make every effort for that," said the council, headed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Al Sheikh. The use of Madinah Airport for the first time this year for international Haj flights reduced pressure on King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, the main pilgrims' gateway. In a related development, the Presidency of Civil Aviation has warned that it would impose fines of SR15,000 on foreign airlines that delay pilgrims' return flights. The Hajj Terminal will be open until March 6 for return Hajj flights. Sami Maqbool, director of KAIA, said the airport had received a total of 3,854 Haj flights transporting 938,948 pilgrims during this Hajj. KAIA is one of the world's busiest airports during the Hajj as every two minutes a plane lands and another takes off. Saudi engineers and technicians working in the airport's control towers and at its radar play a big role in ensuring the pilgrims' safety and security. Hundreds of buses and cars streamed out of Mina and Makkah, packed with pilgrims heading home after what for many was a once-in-lifetime journey of faith. The devout traveled to Jeddah to catch flights back home or to the holy city of Madinah to offer prayers at the Prophet's Mosque, the second holiest site in Islam. "Thank God, I completed the pilgrimage. I hope I live long enough to come back here again," Maroof Abdali of Afghanistan said upon leaving Mina. Abdali, his head shaved in a tradition dating back to Prophet Muhammad's pilgrimage 1400 years ago, exchanged congratulations with friends and relatives as they left the tent city. "I pray to God to give every Muslim a chance to do this. It has been even better than I expected," said Sudanese pilgrim Yassin Tahir. Nigerian Muhammad Ahmed, who was on his third pilgrimage, said: "I thank God. It has been a great religious experience for me. It gets better and better each time." Most pilgrims were relatively unfazed by the stampede that cost 251 lives. The incident did nothing to quell the fervor of the faithful who jostled for the best positions from which to throw their pebbles on the third and last day of the pilgrimage. "The two million faithful who gather every year at the holy sites for the pilgrimage hope to have the honor of being buried in this sacred soil," said Libyan Muhammad Taylamun. Feelings of loss about those who die are balanced by certainty that they have been chosen to go to Heaven. "When our ancestors left for the pilgrimage to Makkah, they bid farewell to their friends and set off by camel or boat for a journey which often lasted several months each way," said Abdullah Muhammad, a Senegalese. "I wish I were among the pilgrims who died," Kamal Shahada, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. "Those who died will be missed by their families and friends but they have a chance no one else can have by dying in the holy land of Islam where they are then buried," said a Bangladeshi.