mecca

Muslims hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Mecca to perform the hajj will have to wait until next year due to concerns over the coronavirus.
The Saudi decision expands a ban last week on foreigners visiting Mecca and Medina, home to the holiest sites in Islam.
It appeared Saudi officials worried about the risk of pilgrims spreading the virus as they had in Iran.
Roughly 2 million Muslims were expected to go on Hajj this year.
Saudi Arabia worked to improve security measures this year.
Devout Muslims are expected to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized Saudi Arabia over how it runs the hajj after a crush last year killed hundreds of pilgrims.