Egyptian Media Personality Sparks Controversy Over "Online" Hajj (Video)

Social media activists circulated a video of Egyptian media figure Lamis El Hadidi, questioning the need to physically perform Hajj and suggesting it could be done via Zoom or in the Metaverse. In her program, El Hadidi stated, "Why don’t we perform Hajj in the Metaverse? Why don’t we do Hajj online? I mean, we could do it through Zoom. Things have evolved; why must we go around the Kaaba seven times?" Many criticized El Hadidi for this suggestion, with some expressing disbelief that a Muslim presenter would propose such an idea on an official channel.