Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is preparing to assure this year's hajj season of pilgrimage to Mecca is safe and not marred by a repeat of last year's bloody stampede. As Iran is a major source of Saudi concerns about hajj security, Riyadh is shutting out Iranians in a move that also suits its efforts to delegitimize Tehran.
The crown prince is also the Saudi interior minister and responsible for security during the hajj. Last September's stampede, in which over 2,200 people died, severely embarrassed the kingdom in general and the prince in particular. The Saudis insist the number of fatalities was much lower. The Wahhabi clerical establishment specifically exonerated the crown prince of any responsibility, arguing the stampede was an accident beyond human control. Some rumors about what really happened point fingers at royal family members seeking special favors, but nothing has been proven.
Nayef announced this month that the Interior Ministry has established the most sophisticated operations control room in the Middle East to monitor developments in Mecca. Some 18,000 closed-circuit TV cameras will be monitored around the clock by 1,600 security personnel. The technology will be state of the art, as the crown prince is known for using sophisticated technology to enhance security.
The security center will allow the ministry to avert crises and respond rapidly if they develop. There will be highly trained personnel who speak many languages — most will speak English — to help manage crowd control. Special attention will be paid to handicapped pilgrims. While the prince made no public reference to last year's tragedy, it is clear the new National Center for Joint Security Operations is designed in part to prevent a recurrence.
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