Tunisian President, Kais Saied, has sacked the minister of religious affairs in the country after 49 Tunisians died in this year’s hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
While confirming the sacking of the Minister, a statement by the Presidency who posted on Facebook said ‘The president decided to end the duties of Ibrahim Chaibi, the minister of religious affairs.”
It should be recalled thst the death toll has risen to 1126, more than half of them from Egypt according to AFP tally on Friday, compiling official statements and reports from diplomats involved in the response.
On Tuesday, the Tunisian foreign ministry reported the death of 35 Tunisian pilgrims, but the number has risen to 49 so far, according to Tunisian media.
The ministry didn’t specify whether the deaths were related to high temperatures, adding that most of the dead had travelled to Saudi Arabia with tourist visas and outside of the Saudi government’s official pilgrimage programme.
Peoplesmind