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SLUG: 2-299492 Saudi Hajj (S-O)
DATE: NOTE NUMBER: |
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DATE=02/11/03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=SAUDI/HAJJ (S-O) NUMBER=2-299492 BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Muslims throughout the world celebrated Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, the last stage of the annual Hajj. V-O-A's Greg LaMotte reports from our Middle East bureau in Cairo, the day was greeted by two-million pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, with the throwing of stones at a pillar representing the devil and with the ritual slaughter of animals. TEXT: Pilgrims, who traveled from Mecca to Mount Arafat in the annual spiritual journey known as the Hajj, went to nearby Muzdalifah in a ritual in which each pilgrim throws seven pebbles at a pillar erected where Muslims believe the devil appeared to Abraham. The feast of sacrifice, called Eid al-Adha, represents a story in the Muslim holy book, the Koran, in which God tests Abraham's faith by ordering him to sacrifice his son Ismail. At that the last moment God tells Abraham to slaughter a sheep instead of his son. There is a similar story in the [Jewsih and Christian] Bible. As part of the celebration, cows, sheep, camels and other animals are slaughtered, with most of the meat given to the poor. Because of increased tension over a possible U-S-led attack against Iraq, security has been extremely tight during this year's Hajj. There have been no reports of demonstrations or violence. (SIGNED) NEB/GL/AWP/RAE/FC |
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