Hassan Adawi, Arab News Staff

MINA, 31 January 2004 — They have come and they have come in force. This is the first large Iraqi contingent traveling on Haj, since their nation was liberated from Saddam Hussein’s tyrannical rule.

Since the end of the Gulf War in 1991, very few Iraqis, perhaps only a few hundred, have been able to perform Haj. This was primarily a result of a ban imposed by Saddam Hussein and UN sanctions. Now that the tyrant has been removed and sanctions lifted, they have come in large numbers in absolute freedom, with no fear of backlash on their return home.

The Saudi government has relaxed the rules for Iraqi pilgrims this year and increased the 30,000 quota to 45,000. Most of the pilgrims have come by road via the Arar border crossing. A few have come by air via Kuwait.

The pilgrims were initially supposed to fly to Saudi Arabia from the Baghdad International Airport, which is under the US military’s control. But US authorities withdrew permission for the flights, citing security concern.

The Iraqi Governing Council has issued a special Haj permit valid for six months for the pilgrims instead of a passport.

Pilgrims who came by road paid $600 and the Iraqi Governing Council contributed another $600. For pilgrims coming by air the charges were $700 with an additional $700 added by the Iraqi authorities.

The Iraqi pilgrims reflected that during Saddam’s rule, restrictions were placed on those wanting to perform Haj.

“One had to wait until 60 years of age to perform Haj. If you died before that then it was your bad luck,” said Salim Karam Allah, 66, from Baghdad. “There was no religious freedom for any sects and we all were at the mercy of Saddam’s whims.”

He said that now in Iraq millions of Muslims were keen to perform Haj; in coming years the Iraqi contingent would keep growing. “Thousands of people wanted to perform Haj this year, but the limited quota and financial constraints stopped them.”

Karam Allah was all praise for “Saudi hospitality” and thanked the goverrnment for relaxing the quota.

Muhammad Jassim, 38, of Salahuddin in northern Iraq, was the image of religious fervor. “I am among those fortunate Iraqis who will be performing Haj while young,” he said.

Though he felt that the manner of Saddam’s departure had affected the Iraqi and Arab pride, he did admit that the people of Iraq now have complete religious freedom.

The entire Iraqi contingent settled into Mina yesterday morning and is now ready to move to Arafat today.

“Despite the difficult and unstable circumstances, Iraqis from all shades, sectors and groups are heading to the House of God with pious hearts,” said a scholar.