JEDDAH, 29 November 2006 — The movement of pilgrims from Makkah to Madinah is proceeding smoothly, according to various consulates overseeing the arrangements at Jeddah’s Haj Terminal and Madinah airport. It is estimated that the number of foreign pilgrims this time will exceed last year’s 2.1 million.

Saudi Arabia has formed a new crowd-management force in order to prevent pilgrims, street vendors and vehicles from squatting or stopping along streets leading to the Jamrat in Mina where pilgrims congregate to stone the pillars symbolizing evil and where stampedes have occurred in the past.

The force will operate during the peak days of Haj as part of efforts to prevent stampedes and ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims. These efforts are in addition to the medical and security teams that are deployed near Jamrat during the Haj season. Street vendors and lingering luggage-laden pilgrims have been blamed for causing bottlenecks on the human causeways leading up to the Jamrat. The new move emphasizes that the government will show no leniency toward those pilgrims who squat along the streets or street vendors who obstruct the smooth flow of pilgrims.

British Pilgrims

Saudi Ambassador to Britain Prince Muhammad ibn Nawaf yesterday attended a function to honor the first group of British pilgrims leaving for Haj. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Becket was also present in the function, which was organized by the Islamic Cultural Center in London.

Prince Muhammad said: “The Haj is an occasion to bury all the differences between the Muslims the world over.”

The Saudi ambassador said that Saudi Arabia makes maximum efforts in terms of manpower, money and administration to take care of the millions of pilgrims flocking to it from different corners of the world including Britain. He noted that last year more than 25,000 British Muslims performed Haj.

Speaking on the occasion Becket lauded the Saudi government’s dedicated service to the pilgrims. “The British government cooperates with the Saudi government to facilitate the pilgrimage of the British pilgrims,” the foreign secretary said. She also assured that the government did not discriminate among its citizens in the name of religion.

Oldest Indian Pilgrim

The oldest Indian pilgrim to perform Haj this year is 110-year-old Jamila Khatoon, wife of Mohammad Nazir from the Thane district of Maharashtra, Indian Consul General Ausaf Sayeed said.

Accompanied by her son Mohammed Kune and two other people, she is due to arrive in Jeddah on Dec. 14 on a Saudi Arabian flight. The second oldest pilgrim is 106-year-old Amjad Khan from the Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh. Last year, 10 persons, all centenarians, successfully performed Haj.

Indian pilgrims who have arrived at the Haj Terminal and Madinah airport say they are comfortable with their respective accommodations in Madinah.