Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif has praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for providing top quality services for pilgrims during this year’s Haj.

The king also thanked Prince Mohammed, who is the interior minister and head of the Supreme Haj Committee, for ensuring that security was tight for this year’s event.

Prince Mohammed said in his message that he was speaking on behalf all the security agencies and soldiers deployed in Makkah, the holy sites and Madinah.

He said it was an honor and pleasure to represent those who had carried out their duties so that the almost 2 million pilgrims could perform their rituals safely.

He said the security agencies had managed to prevent a great deal of loss of life during the Mina stampede by carrying out various containment measures.

In addition, there was no outbreak of epidemic diseases this year, he said.

King Salman also thanked Prince Mohammed for his efforts to secure a successful Haj.

“We thank God the Almighty for honoring us with the service of pilgrims.

“We thank you all, officials and security officers and the other employees in the private and public sectors for serving the pilgrims of the Grand Mosque and for the great discipline and control you showed in serving the guests of God and visitors.”

On a related issue, the king received a call from Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb from Al-Azhar, congratulating him for Eid Al-Adha, and expressing his condolences for the dead in Mina. He also slammed some countries for trying to politicize the incident.

King Salman also received condolences from Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.