DUSHANBE, January 11, Asia-Plus — Seven Tajik Hajjis died as they were in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia to make the holy journey (Hajj) this year, Asia-Plus has learned at the directorate for religious affairs (DRA) of the Ministry of Culture (MoC).
Alinazar Aliyev, leading specialist with a DRA, said that three of them had died during the ritual of the stoning of the Devil (Shaitan), three others had died over bad health condition and one Hajji had died in an accident. They were buried in Mecca, according to him.
In the meantime, practically all Tajik Hajjis have returned home. Two last planes with Tajik hajjis are expected to arrive in Tajikistan on January 12 and 13, the leading specialist said.
Tajikistan has a population of 7 million and some 97 percent of citizens consider themselves Muslims. DRA controls participation in the Hajj, and the government continues to require air travel for the Hajj. Tajik pilgrims fly to Saudi Arabia from both Dushanbe and Khujand. We will recall that 5,000 Tajik Muslims had performed Hajj this year.
