Mecca
Muslims ’stone the devil’ as almost million-strong hajj winds down
Muslim pilgrims cast pebbles in the "stoning of the devil" ritual marking the start of the Eid al-Adha holiday on July 9, as this year's expanded hajj pilgrimage was winding down.
From first light, small groups of worshippers made their way across the valley of Mina, near Mecca in western Saudi Arabia, to throw stones at three concrete walls representing Satan.
Pilgrims scale Mount Arafat for climax of biggest COVID-era hajj
Huge crowds of Muslim pilgrims prayed on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat on July 8, the high point of the biggest hajj pilgrimage since the pandemic forced drastic cuts in numbers for two years in a row.
Israel uncovers a rare early mosque in Negev
Israeli archaeologists on June 22 unveiled a rare ancient mosque in the country's south that the antiquities officials said sheds light on the region's transition from Christianity to Islam.
- Read more about Israel uncovers a rare early mosque in Negev
- Log in to post comments
Saudi crown prince to visit Türkiye on June 22: Turkish official
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will visit Türkiye on June 22, a senior Turkish official told AFP on June 17, as Ankara and Riyadh move on from the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
US religious freedom report notes pending requests in Slovenia
Washington – The US Office of International Religious Freedom published its 2021 religious freedom report on Thursday, noting religious communities’ concerns in Slovenia about several loopholes and pending requests, including those related to halal meals, male circumcision and a lack of certain religious staff in the military.
‘Interconnected world’ behind Stonehenge
As the sun rose over the frost on Salisbury Plain, archaeologist Sarah Greaney conjured up a picture of the hundreds of workers who built Stonehenge, a Neolithic wonder in southern England.
- Read more about ‘Interconnected world’ behind Stonehenge
- Log in to post comments
Visit to Ka’aba on metaverse not real hajj, says Diyanet
Visiting the Ka'aba can be performed on the metaverse, but it will not be considered as a "real hajj," the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has said following a month-long discussion.
Kaplanoğlu’s film to represent Turkey at Oscars
Director Semih Kaplanoğlu's film "Bağlılık Hasan" (Commitment Hasan) will be Turkey's Oscar entry for the 94th Academy Awards next year.
- Read more about Kaplanoğlu’s film to represent Turkey at Oscars
- Log in to post comments
Kaplanoğlu’s film to represent Turkey at Cannes
Director Semih Kaplanoğlu's film "Bağlılık Hasan" (Commitment Hasan) will represent Turkey at the 74th Cannes Film Festival.
In a statement, Kaplanoğlu said that the film industry around the world has been interrupted for a while due to the pandemic measures.
- Read more about Kaplanoğlu’s film to represent Turkey at Cannes
- Log in to post comments
Dialogue with Saudi Arabia to continue: FM Çavuşoğlu
Turkey and Saudi Arabia will maintain dialogue to address their disagreements, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on May 11, after discussing bilateral ties and Israeli attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza with his Saudi counterpart in Mecca.