So far, more than 1.8 million pilgrims from around the world have gathered in and around Mecca for the hajj, and the number was growing as more pilgrims from inside Saudi Arabia joined, said a spokesperson for the Saudi hajj ministry, Ayedh al-Ghweinim. Authorities have said they expect this year to approach pre-Covid levels of more than 2 million. Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

Source: The Guardian June 28, 2023 04:50 UTC