The second stage of the selection process for 60,000 places available at the Hajj pilgrimage in 2021 began on Friday, The National reports, with applications being sorted according to health status.
560,000 people applied for only 60,000 slots. The pilgrimage is being limited to residents of the kingdom for a second consecutive year as authorities prioritize safety to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Applicants must be between 18 and 65 years of age, have received at least one dose of a Saudi-recognized vaccine at least 14 days beforehand, and be free of chronic diseases, the National reports.
It is the second year that Saudi Arabia has been forced to choose the path that prioritizes safety over tradition in curbing the number of followers of Islam that are able to perform the Hajj. Last year, Saudi Arabia hosted an even smaller number of local pilgrims for the Hajj as vaccines were not yet available.
“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is honored to host pilgrims every year, confirms that this arrangement comes out of its constant concern for the health, safety and security of pilgrims as well as the safety of their countries,” a statement from the Hajj and Umrah Ministry said earlier this month.
Last year’s Hajj saw as few as 1,000 people attend due to the pandemic.
