Maryland couple among thousands killed in heatwave during pilgrimage to Mecca

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Maryland (DC News Now) — A popular Maryland couple with close ties to the local community has died due to extreme heat during a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Haja Isatu Wurie, 65, and her husband Alhaji Alieu Dausy, 71, were part of District Manager Angela Alsobrooks’ team. They both died while traveling in Saudi Arabia.

According to official information, the cause of death was probably heat stroke.

Wurie, Alsobrooks said, was a member of the African Diaspora Advisory Board and also a member of the Jamil-ul-Jalil organization.

“Haja Isatu Wurie was an incredibly active member of our community. She was involved in several community organizations and had a transformative impact that was felt both locally and globally,” she wrote in a Post on Instagram.

Mecca, a city in western Saudi Arabia, is considered the holiest Muslim city and the birthplace of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. All devout and able Muslims undertake a hajj – or pilgrimage – to Mecca at least once in their lives, making the trip a lifelong dream for the couple.

According to the Associated Press (AP), more than 1,300 pilgrims have died in the scorching heat during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. 83 percent of the fatalities were pilgrims without valid permits who had traveled long distances in the scorching heat.