Sexual abuse, assault and rampant groping incidents

In 2018, CNN released a comprehensive report detailing the experiences of five women who endured sexual abuse at the Hajj. The report highlighted that most of these distressing incidents occurred during the tawaf ritual, where pilgrims perform a counter-clockwise procession around the Kaaba shrine. Some of the women who spoke to CNN reported the incidents to the police but stated that "the police ignored their plea."

One of the victims, a Pakistani woman named Asra Nadeem, who now resides in the US, first attended the pilgrimage in 2006 at the age of 21. After experiencing a stampede during that year's Hajj, she returned to Mecca to perform Umrah. While she was performing tawaf alone during this visit, she encountered severe harassment: "While performing tawaf, someone grabbed her bum. Later, someone grabbed her breast. When she turned to look who was there, the man smirked at her while he continued to grab her breast."

Another harrowing account came from an anonymous British woman who visited Mecca in 2007. At 32 years old, she faced multiple assaults while performing tawaf: "Then-32-year-old woman’s breasts and arms were grabbed while performing tawaf. As the procession continued, she felt someone rubbing his erection on her. When she tried to inform the police, she was shooed away. Moments later, someone pushed his hand between her buttocks. She cried and turned only to see a man smiling at him who said, 'Alhamdulillah' (Praise to God)."

The haunting experiences of women during the Hajj continue to surface, shedding light on the persistent issue of sexual harassment at religious gatherings. In 2011, a young woman from Indonesia, then only 17 years old, faced disturbing harassment. While staying at a hotel, she was subjected to catcalls, and the harassment escalated at the Kabba during tawaf, where she felt someone pushing their erected genitalia against her. Traumatized by the experience, she vowed never to return to the pilgrimage.

Another alarming incident involves an anonymous woman from Egypt who encountered harassment both at the ages of 13 and 17. Initially, during her return to the hotel after Umrah, she was catcalled by a shopkeeper. Years later, her plight deepened during Hajj when someone brazenly grabbed her breast. Turning around, she found the perpetrator standing next to his wife, a shocking revelation that highlights the brazen nature of such assaults.

The narrative of Anooshe Mushtaq, a Pakistani woman who now resides in Australia, brings to light the vulnerability of even the youngest pilgrims. At just 10 years old, while attending Hajj with her family, she was groped by a young man. Later, a bus conductor further violated her, groping her upper leg and moving his hand to her chest. Her experiences underline the severe impact of such violations on children.

In a separate but equally serious incident reported by Desert Sun in September 2022, a 42-year-old woman was kidnapped and subjected to hours of torment in Mecca. She was choked and held captive for eight hours, an ordeal that ended with the arrest of 39-year-old Daniel Gamez Zaragoza. This case is part of a broader pattern of criminal acts that continue to mar the sanctity of what should be a safe and spiritual journey.

These stories collectively underscore the urgent need for enhanced security measures and greater accountability to protect all pilgrims, especially women and children, from such egregious violations during what is supposed to be a sacred and spiritual pilgrimage

Not only men but also women have been involved in kidnapping incidents during Hajj. In a notable 2022 case, authorities arrested a Pakistani woman for the kidnapping of a 5-year-old Burmese national girl in Mecca. The child, abducted on 29th October, was fortunately recovered a few days later, on 1st November.

Another distressing case occurred in 2010 involving Mariam, a girl of Indian origin. During her first visit to Mecca, she was kidnapped. Her father shared their painful experience, stating, "We have been here every year for Umrah. She is in the custody of some evil people who are not allowing her to contact us." The family, residents of Saudi Arabia for 17 years, last saw Mariam after her mother had given her one-riyal bills to distribute among beggars following the pilgrimage. At that time, Mariam was a ninth-grade student.

These incidents highlight a broader, disturbing trend. As reported, "These reports are just the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens of horrifying incidents of crimes against women during Hajj."