Trini Muslims safe in Mecca

THE 103 local Muslims who went to Mecca for the annual Hajj (Islamic spiritual journey), are all alive and well, according to public relations officer of the Anjuman Sunnat Jamaat Association (ASJA), Nazam Shah.

Shah told Newsday: “I know for a fact the president general of ASJA spoke to Dr Musa and Haji Wajid Langton, who are the coordinators of our  Muslim faithful who went on the Hajj and who are looking after the welfare of the local Muslims, and it is confirmed that all is well and the 103 TT pilgrims are safe and sound.” Shah said the coordinators of the Hajj are contacted at least twice a day to ensure that everything is in order. “I want all those families who have loved ones in Saudi Arabia, to rest assured that ASJA is surely looking out for the benefit of its Hajis and there is no need to be worried,” Shah said.

The group is due back from Mecca within the next two weeks. Shah said he wanted to highly commend the Saudi Arabian government for the manner in which they have been handling the sick and injured. At least 244 people were trampled to death and hundreds more injured at Mount Arafat, during a ritual known as the stoning of the devil on Sunday. The ritual involves pilgrims throwing rocks at three stone pillars to demonstrate their deepest disrespect for Satan. It was reported that in their efforts to get near the pillars to carry out the ritual stoning, hundreds of Muslims tripped and fell and were trampled by the massive crowd.