Saudi Arabia is expected to scale back or call off this year's hajj pilgrimage for the first time in its modern history, observers say, a perilous decision as coronavirus cases spike. SEE ALSO: Europe reopens borders, but virus looms large elsewhere"It's a toss-up between holding a nominal hajj and scrapping it entirely," a South Asian official in contact with Saudi hajj authorities told AFP. A Saudi official told AFP: "The decision will soon be made and announced." "The delay in announcing its decision shows it understands the political consequences of cancelling the hajj or reducing its scale." A decision to cancel the hajj would be a first since the kingdom was founded in 1932.

Source: Standard Digital June 16, 2020 05:01 UTC