Ebola fears prevent thousands of West African Muslims from attending Hajj

Ebola fears prevent thousands of West African Muslims from attending Hajj

Ebola fears have stopped more than 7,000 West African Muslims attending an annual pilgrimage after Saudi Arabia implemented a travel ban.

But the country said this year's Hajj had been free of Ebola and other contagious diseases because of measures it took to protect more than 2million pilgrims who took part in the annual Islamic event.

Pilgrims today began leaving the desert tent city of Mina, where they were taking part in the ritual of the stoning of the devil - one of the last rites of the Hajj.

The Hajj: Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba (centre) inside the Grand Mosque during the annual pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. More than 2million pilgrims took part this year

Huge numbers: Pilgrims today began leaving the desert tent city of Mina, where they were taking part in the ritual of the stoning of the devil - one of the last rites of the Hajj

Pilgrims today began leaving the desert tent city of Mina, where they were taking part in the ritual of the stoning of the devil - one of the last rites of the Hajj.

Many headed back to Mecca, ending the Hajj as they started it by circling the cube-shaped Kaaba seven times. The Hajj, which lasts around five days, ends on Monday.

There were fears regarding Saudi Arabia's readiness to ensure a healthy Hajj for pilgrims after the kingdom became the epicentre for the potentially fatal Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers).


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