Women security officers dressed in military khaki uniforms, sporting a hip-length jacket, loose trousers and a black beret over a veil covering their hair and were seen monitoring the Grand Mosque.
For the first time and in a significant move towards women empowerment, dozens of female soldiers have become a part of the security services that monitor pilgrims in Mecca and Medina.
Women security officers dressed in military khaki uniforms, sporting a hip-length jacket, loose trousers and a black beret over a veil covering their hair and were seen monitoring the Grand Mosque.
People across the globe lauded and hailed the feat.
“From the field. Security guards for and .”
History's first female security force has been deployed at the Grand Mosque in , . interior ministry shared pictures of women officers on duty. / pic.twitter.com/e5IMLITPRO
First time in history of Makkah a female Saudi Guard performing duty during pic.twitter.com/nfV5xHbFQ4
— Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo)"First time in the history of Makkah a female Saudi Guard performing duty during #Hajj #WomenEmpowerment," a Twitter user wrote.
Keeping COVID-19 protocols in mind, thousands of vaccinated Muslim pilgrims gathered at Mecca to perform Hajj, maintained social distancing and wore masks. This year, 60,000 vaccinated citizens of Saudi Arabia have been allowed to perform the Hajj due to coronavirus restrictions. Saudi Arabia has restricted the Hajj to its citizens and residents for the second year in a row, barring millions of other pilgrims from abroad in response to the coronavirus pandemic.