Why do some Hajj pilgrims go to Saudi Arabia without official permits?

Hajj — the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca — took place last week during an extreme heatwave. Officials in Saudi Arabia say that at least 1,301 people died. Most of them had not obtained official permits to enter the country to perform Hajj, which all Muslims must do at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able. Without proper documentation, pilgrims cannot access amenities like air conditioned tents and buses.

Zeinab Hussein Dabaa, a journalist with BBC Arabic in Cairo, explains how the expense of Hajj leads many pilgrims to pursue what’s called “unofficial Hajj,” despite Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on the practice.

We also hear from Hina, a pilgrim from Pakistan. She describes what it was like to perform Hajj as temperatures soared past 51C.

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