IRCS Medical Facilities in Medina

Iran’s Red Crescent Society will open two medical facilities in the Saudi pilgrimage city of Medina on Monday after it received permits from local officials following drawn-out negotiations.  Pir-Hossein Kolivand, who heads the medical centers office at the IRCS during Hajj, was quoted by YJC as saying that the permits were granted on Saturday. “We’ll open the centers on Monday that will be ready to serve Iranian pilgrims,” he said. This year, 86,000 Iranians are performing the annual ritual, around 22,000 more than 2015, the last time Iranians made pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every able-bodied Muslim who can afford is obliged to undertake at least once in his/her lifetime. This year, the ritual takes place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4.