ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A tragic accident claimed the lives of two pilgrims from Erbil on Wednesday, while two others sustained serious injuries during their journey to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
Family member Sardar Mohammed confirmed the heartbreaking news, revealing that his father-in-law, Hamzah Abdulkarim, had set out with three companions—Sabah, Shukur, and Faris Asinger—at midnight to embark on the pilgrimage.
According to Mohammed, their car overturned in Iraq’s western desert, resulting in the death of Abdulkarim and one other passenger. The remaining two survived but suffered severe injuries. He added that he traveled personally to recover the bodies, which are being transferred to Ramadi, Anbar province, before being handed over to their families.
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Umrah, unlike Hajj, can be performed at any time of the year and draws millions of Muslims annually to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. Every year, thousands of Iraqis and Kurds make the journey, many opting to travel by road through the Arar border crossing, despite the risks involved.
The Arar crossing, which links Iraq and Saudi Arabia, was closed for nearly three decades following the 1990 Kuwait invasion under Saddam Hussein. It reopened in 2020, initially restricted to cargo and limited religious use, before fully reopening to Iraqi citizens in September 2022.
Iraq’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdul-Sattar al-Janabi, at the time, described the crossing as “a vital lifeline connecting the two nations.” Both governments have since invested heavily in modernizing the crossing to facilitate smoother travel and trade.
In preparation for the 2024 Hajj season, Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) completed a major upgrade at the crossing. The new terminal, spanning over 9,000 square meters, includes 68 passport counters and six inspection zones, aimed at providing seamless services for pilgrims.
Despite these improvements, the tragic accident underscores the dangers some pilgrims face when traveling long distances by road to fulfill their religious duties.
