Another pilgrim has taken his own life at Makkah’s Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia, making it the third such occurrence this year, according to Gulf News. The Iraqi pilgrim had been experiencing acute health crisis according to his family.
Hussain Hameed al Haidari, the Iraqi pilgrim, launched himself from the elevated Kaaba circumambulation area onto the courtyard where devotees were circling the sacred edifice or praying. His family stated that al Haidari’s mother with whom he was performing Hajj had to be shifted to a local hospital after hearing about the suicide of her son.
“Al Haidari, from the Nahrowan area in Iraq, went to perform the religious sojourn with his mother. He is known to have a history of health issues,” a relative said. The relative did not say whether the mother was with him when he took his own life.
A spokesperson for the Iraqi Hajj mission, Hassan Fahad al Kanani, authenticated the identity of the dead man, saying that he was born in 1975. He said that the motive behind the suicide was not yet known. Al Kanani reported that other Iraqis staying in the same hotel as al Haidari said that he had some health issues leading to the death of one of his son months ago.
Suicides at the Grand Mosque are very rare, especially taking one’s life is strictly forbidden in Islam. However, in June, a Bangladeshi man had committed suicide by jumping from the first floor of the Grand Mosque into the Kaaba circumambulation area.
