By bne Tehran bureau
More than 25,000 Russians have embarked on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the holy sites in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, setting a new record following increased quotas and the easing of pandemic restrictions.
The Russian Hajj mission includes six pilgrims from the unrecognised disputed Donbas region in Ukraine led by Rashid Bragin, chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (DUM) of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). The mission is part of a growing number of Muslims in Russia, with the population in Moscow alone now expected to reach over 1.5mn people in part due to immigrants from Central Asia and the Caucasus.
During a video conference between Moscow and Mecca, Hizbula Asuev, head of the Russian Hajj mission, noted that the pilgrims were pleasantly surprised by their warm reception.
'The attitude towards Russians is very positive,' Asuev shared. 'In many places, especially on the streets, when people learn that we are from Russia, they ask us to convey their respect and appreciation to Putin, calling him a 'giant.'
However, despite the record number of Russian pilgrims, not everyone who wished to undertake the Hajj could do so.
The average cost of a Hajj tour is around $3,000, a price that has increased due to complex transportation and logistics and limited space in accredited hotels.
Also, there has been heightened control over the arrival of pilgrims to combat the rise in illegal pilgrims.
Abbyasov warns that fraud targeting potential pilgrims has become more frequent, both in Russia and worldwide. He urged those wishing to undertake the Hajj to only book through accredited tour operators.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina that every Muslim is expected to undertake at least once in their lifetime.
The Hajj culminates in the festival of Eid al-Adha, celebrated by Muslims worldwide. In 2024, the peak days of the Hajj are from June 14 to 17, with Eid al-Adha falling on June 16.
Moscow's Muslim community has been growing steadily due to higher birth rates and increased migration from predominantly Muslim regions. However, there are only a few mosques in Moscow, which often leads to overcrowding, especially during major religious holidays, including this week.
Saudi Arabia launched a self-driving aerial taxi service for pilgrims during this year’s religious season, the state news agency SPA reported on June 12.
The electric flying taxi is designed to transport pilgrims across holy sites, facilitating the rapid transfer of medical emergencies and supplies, and deliver goods. It’s the first service of its kind in any market worldwide and part of an increasing number of new technologies being released for Hajj.
