After it stated before that the video showing angry pilgrims, neglected in Mina was shot last year, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs recognizes in a new statement the terrible conditions these people had to experience when performing hajj in Mina and Arafat. After the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs said in a communiqué, Thursday, that a viral video shot by Moroccan pilgrims was shot during last year's hajj season, it issued a new statement on Friday evening, recognizing the pilgrims' terrible situation in the Holy sites. «The Moroccan official pilgrimage delegation and the National Tawafa Establishment for Pilgrims of Arabian Countries held an emergency meeting today at 7 pm in the body's headquarters», indicated the statement, relayed by MAP news agency. The meeting was an opportunity for the Moroccan side to «highlight the problems that pilgrims suffered from during this year's hajj season, including the issue with food in Mina and the lack of transportation means in Arafat», added the same source. Launching a joint inquiry The Moroccan pilgrimage delegation was referring to what some Moroccan pilgrims pointed at in a video published, Thursday, on Facebook. In the 25-minute clip, dozens of Moroccan pilgrims spoke to camera, criticizing the buses they have been granted to reach Mina. They have all agreed that the vehicle that was transporting them broke down on its way to Mina. The bus was not replaced, according to many of them, and they had to take taxis to reach the city. Moreover, pilgrims, slammed the Moroccan pilgrimage delegation for the food they have been given, and the tent where they were staying. The same source points out that after their meeting, the National Tawafa Establishment for Pilgrims of Arabian Countries expressed its regrets for what some Moroccan nationals had to go through in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. It also added that the two «sides agreed to launch a joint inquiry to identify those responsible of these problems». For the record, the Ministry's two communiqués stated that the Moroccan Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs had contacted his Saudi counterpart to discuss the situation of Moroccan pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and address their conditions while performing Hajj.
