Algeria Hajj Pilgrims Head for Saudi Arabia

TEHRAN (IQNA) – The first group of Algerian pilgrims left Algiers' Houari-Boumediene International Airport for the Saudi Arabia.

Algerian Minister of Public Works and Transport Abdelghani Zaalane and representatives of several ministerial departments were at the airport to see off the pilgrims on Wednesday afternoon, Algeria Press Service reported.

Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city in Islam.

It is regarded as one of the pillars of Islam and the largest act of mass pilgrimage in the world.

The holy pilgrimage is also a demonstration of Muslims’ unity and their submission to Allah.

Every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to perform the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.

Algeria is a Muslim-majority Arab country in North Africa. Nearly 98 percent of its population is Muslim.