Saudi Women Officers Stand Guard Inside The Grand Mosque In Mecca, Social Media Praises Them
In a historic move, the Saudi Arabia government has recruited 12 female soldiers to become a part of the security services that monitor pilgrims in Mecca and Medina, the birthplace of Islam.
This is the first time in Arab history that female soldiers are standing guard to maintain law and order in Mecca. The women soldiers at the Grand Mosque were seen wearing a military khaki uniform, teamed with a hip-length jacket, loose trousers, and a black beret over a veil covering their hair.
Haj in COVID times
The holy sites in Mecca and Medina normally host more than two million people during haj. However, this year there is a significant decrease in the number of pilgrims due to the COVID-19 pandemic.?
This came as Saudi Arabia restricted the haj to its own citizens and residents for the second year in a row, barring millions of other pilgrims from abroad in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Al Jazeera, around 10,000 vaccinated Muslims were allowed to participate in the pilgrims on Sunday. The people at Mecca maintained social distancing and followed COVID-19 guidelines.
This year, the government has allowed only 60,000 vaccinated citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj and last year, only 1,000 pilgrims were allowed from within the kingdom to take part.?
Crown Prince's Vision 2030
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed through social and economic reforms as part of plans to modernise the conservative Muslim kingdom and attract foreign investment under a diversification drive.
Under his reform plan, known as Vision 2030, the crown prince lifted a driving ban on women, allowed adult women to travel without permission from guardians and granted them more control over family matters.?The government has also brought ease to foreign investments in the country as well.
But the reform plan has been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, including on women's rights activists.
Social media applauds move
Netizens lauded this new development, take a look at some reactions.
Women in service
"I am following the steps of my late father to complete his journey, standing here at the Grand mosque in Mecca, the holiest place. To serve the worshippers is a very noble and honourable task," Mona, who declined to give her family name, told Reuters.
?Samar, another soldier watching pilgrims near the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure that Muslims believe was built by Abraham, said she was encouraged by her family to join the military, after psychology studies.
"This is a huge accomplishment for us and it is the biggest pride to be in the service of religion, the country and the guests of God, the most merciful," she said.
