Ramadi, Iraq – September 4, 2025
Two Iraqi pilgrims from Erbil reportedly died and two others sustained serious injuries when their vehicle overturned in the western deserts of Iraq’s Anbar province during a road journey to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
According to The Islamic Information, the victims were identified as Hamzah Abdulkarim and Sabah, who were among four friends traveling together. The other two passengers, named as Shukur and Faris Asinger, survived with severe injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The group had departed from Erbil at midnight with the intention of reaching Mecca. Their journey was cut short when the accident occurred in a remote area of Anbar province. Family members reported that the bodies are being transferred to Ramadi, the provincial capital, before being handed over to relatives.
Long road journeys to Saudi Arabia are a common route for pilgrims from neighboring countries, though the desert terrain is often hazardous.