Saudi Women Officers Stand Guard Inside The Grand Mosque In Mecca, Social Media Praises Them
Under Crown Prince's 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.
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.
Dawn
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.
Reuters
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.
Reuters
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.
For the first time ever, Saudi women stand guard in Mecca during #Hajj ???https://t.co/mqjSAIA62r pic.twitter.com/BBzBLySux2
¡ª ??? ?????? ?? Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) July 21, 2021
It's a clear sign conditions are slowly beginning to thaw.
¡ª John Huxtable (@JohnHuxtable19) July 22, 2021
Saudi women are also allowed to drive vehicles in another first time ever event.
Pictures of Saudi Arabia¡¯s female #Hajj and Umrah security guards on duty inside the Grand Mosque of #Mecca are going viral. A number of female guards have been deployed during ongoing Hajj season close to Kaba. This is first time female guards are on duty at sanctum sanctorum. pic.twitter.com/UPf8qoDxQR
¡ª India Muslim History (@syedurahman) July 21, 2021
They are improving really better than i anticipated,that calls for an appreciation ???
¡ª Skeptical Vagabond ? (@nitin676) July 21, 2021
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.
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.
Senior Writer at Indiatimes. She writes on Lifestyle, fashion, beauty, astrology and health.
