Egypt Cracks Down on Tourism Companies Following Hajj Deaths

Egypt has withdrawn the operating licenses of 16 tourism companies and referred them to the public prosecutor.

These companies are accused of being responsible for the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims in Mecca. This action was taken by a crisis unit headed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

Medical and security sources reported that at least 530 Egyptians died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The crisis unit confirmed that 31 of these deaths were due to chronic illnesses.

The tourism companies involved failed to provide essential services, including medical care, to the pilgrims.

These companies reportedly sent pilgrims on personal visit visas instead of Hajj visas, which are necessary for access to Mecca and the associated rituals.

Pilgrims with personal visas did not receive the medical services provided by Saudi authorities and had to walk through the desert into Mecca to avoid arrest or deportation.

The Egyptian authorities stated that these travel agencies also failed to provide appropriate accommodation, leading to exhaustion from high temperatures.

The crisis unit highlighted that most of the deceased pilgrims were unregistered. Among the registered Egyptian pilgrims, 31 deaths were documented, with chronic diseases cited as the cause.

In recent days, hundreds of people from various countries have died due to the extreme conditions during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, where temperatures have sometimes exceeded 51 degrees Celsius (124 Fahrenheit).