The current political and economic situation in Yemen has deprived a large number of Yemenis from performing Haj. A number of Yemeni pilgrims at the holy sites told Saudi Gazette that the political situation back home has badly affected the number of Yemenis coming for Haj this year. They said almost half of those who planned to perform Haj this year from Yemen dropped their plans at the last minute. They said the political turmoil has badly affected the middle class in the country and many of them could not afford to make the trip. The situation there has forced Yemenis to prioritize their spending with most spending their savings on items of basic necessity. They said, the number of Yemenis who performed Haj last year was twice what it is this year. They said the situation has also encouraged the merchants in Yemen to tamper with the prices of essential commodities. This year, Haj has come at a time of sweeping change in the Middle East, where a wave of uprisings has toppled leaders in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Omar Al-Sharkasy said he saw his Haj opportunity as the first sign of more good things to come from his Libya's revolution, but during the few days in Makkah he would not think about the conditions he left behind. “This is the first good omen for Libyans. It reassures Libyans that the riches of their country are theirs ... But our presence here is strictly for worshipping God,” said Sharkasy, whose brother was killed in the fighting. __
