The impact of the pilgrimage to Mecca on Egyptians has recently been at the heart of the news, highlighting a pattern of fraudulent practices on the part of certain tourism companies. The Egyptian government sanctioned 16 of these companies, accusing them of sending pilgrims without visas to the holy sites, leading to the deaths of more than 600 people. This drama reveals significant gaps in the pilgrimage management process, highlighting the vulnerability of many pilgrims who seek to fulfill their religious duty in often precarious conditions.
Saudi Arabia, as the custodian of Islam’s holy sites, grants a limited number of visas for the pilgrimage to Mecca. Egyptian pilgrims mainly have two ways of accessing these visas: either by registering with the authorities and hoping to be drawn to be part of the state delegation, or by going through approved tourist companies. These companies, which received a share of the visas, organize often expensive trips to accompany pilgrims on their journey.
However, fraudulent practices have come to light, with pilgrims who, having failed to obtain official visas, attempted to circumvent the system by traveling to Mecca illegally. This situation has led to a human tragedy, with an alarming number of deaths among Egyptian pilgrims. Official figures show more than 1,100 victims, most of them unauthorized pilgrims.
This drama highlights the need for better regulation of the pilgrimage to Mecca, as well as stricter supervision of tourism agencies and associations involved in the organization of this religious trip. The authorities must guarantee the safety and well-being of pilgrims, ensuring that all logistical, administrative and security aspects are adequately taken care of.
Ultimately, this tragic event should serve as a catalyst for broader reforms in the management of the pilgrimage to Mecca, to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. It is essential to ensure that all pilgrims benefit from adequate protection and secure arrangements for their journey, so that they can carry out their religious duty in dignified and respectful conditions.