Fewer pilgrims, less crowd risk at haj's symbolic stoning of the devil

Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar symbolizing Satan during the annual Haj pilgrimage, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 20, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

JAMARAT, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 during the Muslim haj in Saudi Arabia have also reduced the risk of the deadly crowd crushes that have marred the pilgrimage's symbolic stoning of the devil in past years, worshippers said on Tuesday.

Before the pandemic, the annual haj rite typically drew more than two million Muslim faithful from around the world, with crowding regularly leading to dangerous incidents, most recently a 2015 stampede that killed hundreds.