ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Four people from Sulaimani province lost their lives after their car overturned in a crash in Ramadi on Saturday. They were returning from Saudi Arabia after completing their pilgrimage to Mecca.
Anas Qais Ani, spokesperson for Anbar health directorate, told Rudaw that the traffic accident took place in Hamziya area in Ramadi province.
The vehicle was carrying five people from Sulaimani. Four died and the other was injured in the incident, according to the spokesperson.
They were returning from Hajj in Saudi Arabia — one of the pillars of Islam which all Muslims who are able should do at least once.
The dead bodies have been transferred to the local forensics office and the injured person is receiving treatment at a hospital, noted Ani.
Srwa Mohammed, a member of the Iraqi parliament, said the dead included two men and two women. Per information provided to her by local officials, the injured person is a woman.
Some 4,600 pilgrims from the Kurdistan Region attended Hajj this year, according to Kurdistan Region authorities.
However, most pilgrims from Kurdistan typically enter Saudi Arabia on tourist visas, a violation of regulations in the Kingdom. Rather, pilgrims should obtain special visas for religious tourism from Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has registered 1.8 million pilgrims this year.
