Following multiple heat-related fatalities, Tunisia's president removes minister of religious affairs from office.
Following the tragic loss of life among Tunisian pilgrims during the Muslim Hajj in Saudi Arabia due to intense heat, Tunisia's President, Kais Saied, took the bold step of firing his Minister for Religious Affairs, Brahim Shaibi. The President's office announced the decision on a Friday evening. This decision came after Shaibi acknowledged the demise of 49 Tunisian pilgrims, which sparked criticism. Reports suggest that Shaibi admitted to neglecting the oversight of the pilgrims, according to the state news agency TAP. It appeared that many victims entered Saudi Arabia on tourist visas and were not officially registered as pilgrims.
Egyptian authorities cracked down on 16 travel agencies, as reported by Al-Kahira News, a pro-government TV channel. These agencies were accused of organizing trips for unregistered pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for illegal purposes. Investigations were launched against the parties involved.
No definitive total of deaths during the pilgrimage has been established yet. Saudi Arabia has not issued any public comments regarding the situation. Several countries have reported some of their citizens passing away during the Hajj in Mecca. It is anticipated that the death toll surpasses 400, with the number likely to keep growing.
As of Saturday, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs reported 225 deceased pilgrims, with most deaths not directly linked to heat. India reported 98 of its citizens perishing, while Jordanian officials stated that at least 75 Jordanian pilgrims had lost their lives due to the extreme temperatures. Iranian authorities confirmed that 11 Iranians were among the dead. The Malaysian news agency Bernama reported 14 Malaysian pilgrims had died. According to Senegalese authorities, three people from Senegal had passed away in Mecca. The Pakistani authorities reported the deaths of 35 of their citizens, with most deaths due to the high temperatures. Media outlets also reported over 300 Egyptians had died during the pilgrimage due to the excessive heat, although official figures have not been released from Cairo yet.
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After the President's decision, discussions surrounding Minister Shaibi's handling of Matters pertaining to Tunisian pilgrims intensified. The removal of the Minister for Religious Affairs in Tunisia occurred after the President's office released a statement following several heat deaths during the Hajj pilgrimage. Despite criticism, it was reported that Shaibi admitted to neglecting the oversight of the pilgrims, leading to the tragic loss of 49 lives. Following the tragic events in Tunisia, similar concerns arose in other countries, including Egypt, where authorities took action against travel agencies accused of organizing trips for unregistered pilgrims.
