Saudi Arabia's Diplomatic Disputes Complicate Hajj Pilgrimage

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Nearly two million people traveled to the holy site of Mecca this week for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. It’s a rite required of every adult Muslim at least once in their lives.

The event is incredibly sacred, but that hasn’t stopped politics from getting in the way. The host country of Saudi Arabia is in an ongoing diplomatic dispute with neighboring Qatar and, according to the Qatari government, the dispute has prevented many of their citizens from making the pilgrimage this year.

Dilshad Ali performed the Hajj in 2005. She’s managing editor of the Muslim Channel at Patheos.com and she joins The Takeaway to discuss how the Saudi Arabian government has handled this year’s Hajj. 

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.