Almost 2 million people attended the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia this year, as temperatures soared past 50 degrees Celsius.
Egypt has announced a crackdown on tourism operators that illegally took pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year's hajj. Egypt 's prime minister has ordered 16 tourism companies to be stripped of their licences for organising illegal trips to complete the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia .
It is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims who are able to must complete it at least once in their lives.Arab diplomats told the AFP news agency this week that Egyptians accounted for 658 deaths, and that 630 of them were unregistered pilgrims. The government accuses the companies of not providing adequate services "causing unregistered pilgrims to be exhausted as a result of high temperatures".Hajj pilgrims require a specific visa, allowing them to enter the holy city.
Even for those who do receive an official permit, the steep costs lead to many attempting to complete hajj without one.Saudi officials had earlier said 1.8 million pilgrims took part this year, a similar total to last year, and that 1.6 million came from abroad.
Hajj Hajj Deaths Hajj Heat Mecca Egypt Saudi Arabia Heat
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