Muslim pilgrims stone the devil in Jamarat

Pilgrims shave their heads upon leaving Muzdalifah after throwing pebbles as part on the symbolic al-Aqabah (stoning of the devil ritual) at the Jamarat Bridge during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, yesterday. [AFP]

Muslims from around the world hurled pebbles at a giant wall in a symbolic stoning of the devil yesterday, the start of the riskiest part of the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where hundreds died in a crush four years ago.

The kingdom stakes its reputation on its guardianship of Islam’s holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, and organising the world’s largest annual Muslim gathering. It has deployed tens of thousands of security forces and medics and is also using modern technology including surveillance drones to maintain order.