TUNIS, Tunisia

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday sacked his Religious Affairs Minister Ibrahim Chaibi after dozens of Tunisian pilgrims died while performing the Hajj ritual in Saudi Arabia.

A statement by the Tunisian Presidency, however, didn't provide reasons behind firing the minister but it coincided with the death of at least 49 Tunisian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

Chaibi said earlier on Friday, before his sacking, that most of the deaths were among Tunisian pilgrims who traveled to the Kingdom on tourist visas rather than through the Saudi official Hajj program.

Chaibi came under criticism by Tunisian social media activists who accused him of posting his photos while performing the Hajj at a time when the deaths were reported among Tunisian pilgrims.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar