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King orders 100 Hajis from S. Sudan flown to Makkah

King orders 100 Hajis from S. Sudan flown to Makkah
Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, near the holy city of Makkah, 黑料社区, in this Oct. 14, 2013 file photo. (AP)
Updated 15 September 2016

King orders 100 Hajis from S. Sudan flown to Makkah

King orders 100 Hajis from S. Sudan flown to Makkah

RIYADH: One hundred pilgrims from South Sudan have expressed thanks to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for providing them with transportation to perform Haj in Makkah.
A private plane transported the pilgrims from Juba, the South Sudan capital, to Uganda and then Jeddah, until they reached Makkah.
Dr. Abdullah Juma, secretary general of the Holy Qur鈥檃n Society and governor of Tombara Province, expressed his gratitude to King Salman on behalf of the pilgrims.
He said the pilgrims from South Sudan are 鈥渢hankful to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for enabling them to come to the Kingdom to perform Haj.鈥 鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 believe that they could come to the Kingdom in such a quick way so that they could join all the Haj rituals from Tarwiyah Day to Arafat Day,鈥 he told the Arabic daily Okaz.
He added that the pilgrims also thanked King Salman for the various facilities that enabled them to arrive at the holy sites.
鈥淲e did not know how to come to this blessed country. For one, a civil war is taking place in South Sudan. It would have been difficult to leave. For another, it鈥檚 expensive to travel to perform Haj,鈥 he said.
He added that the pilgrims鈥 doubts regarding the possibility of Haj performance were dispelled when Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman ordered that a plane be provided to fly them to Makkah.
鈥淭o many of the pilgrims, it鈥檚 the first time that they could come to perform Haj. They鈥檙e performing a religious obligation. They鈥檙e fulfilling a lifetime dream for every Muslim,鈥 he said.
He added that their experience in performing Haj this year will be a precious memory which they鈥檒l treasure for the rest of their lives.