Religion and Politics

From 2 million to 1,000: Striking Photos Show Socially-Distanced Hajj

CNN’s Tamara Qiblawi, Jomana Karadsheh and Mostafa Salem report, “Muslim worshipers observed the first rituals of an historic Hajj on Wednesday, with around 1,000 pilgrims adhering to ‘safety bubbles’ and social distancing measures over fears of the coronavirus.” Only selected Saudi Arabian nationals and residents between the ages of 20 and 50 could attend this year. Qiblawi, Karadsheh, and Salem write, “While the Hajj typically features large crowds crammed around Islam’s holiest shrine, this year’s annual pilgrimage has seen worshipers circumambulating the Kaaba along concentric circles marked on the ground. Several feet separated the mask-clad pilgrims who walked at a measured pace.”

Read at CNN

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