Mecca pilgrimages face tighter control to prevent corruption

Pilgrimages are now under stricter management and supervision in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

A new regulation, which took effect on Jan 1, requires that Muslims who want to travel to Mecca, the most holy city of Islam, must do so as part of a State-organized tour.

The regulation is part of an effort to prevent corruption from spreading, a top religious-affairs official in the region said.