Mecca, Saudi Arabia
At least 244 people were killed this week in a stampede during the hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim must make at least once. The worshipers were trampled or suffocated when a crowd of thousands surged forward to hurl seven stones at a pillar representing the devil. According to tradition, Satan appeared to the prophet Abraham on that site. Since the hajj involves some 2 million pilgrims funneling into small spaces around holy sites, deaths from overcrowding are not uncommon. “All precautions were taken to prevent such an incident,” said Saudi minister Iyad Madani. “But this is God’s will.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brandFeature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autismFeature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
'Two dolls': Can Trump sell Americans on austerity?Feature Trump's tariffs may be threatening holiday shelves but they've handed Democrats a 'huge gift'
