122 Indonesians die in hajj pilgrimage

JAKARTA. November 18. KAZINFORM Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry said that 122 of hajj pilgrims from Indonesia have died in Mecca during the hajj pilgrimage rites, local media reported on Thursday, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, most of the deaths were caused by circulatory disorders, respiratory problems. The deceased pilgrims consisted of 59 men and 53 women, the Jakarta Post reported.

On Monday, Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, who heads Indonesian hajj pilgrims, led a prayer for a deceased pilgrim who died during a vigil on the plains of Arafat.

As the world's largest Muslims-population country, Indonesia always sent the largest number of hajj pilgrims in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia during the hajj pilgrimage season. This year Indonesia sent more than 224 thousand Muslims to carryout the hajj pilgrimage in both of Islam's two holy cities, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com