 News reports in November 1916 via contact in Cairo with returning Hajj pilgrims, stated that with the Ottoman Turkish authorities gone, the Hajj of 1916 was free of the previous massive extortion and monetary demands made by the Turks who were agents of the Ottoman government.Following the 1924 Battle of Makkah, the Sharif of Mecca was overthrown by the Saud family, and Makkah was incorporated into Saudi Arabia.Under Saudi rule, much of the historic city has been demolished as a result of the Saudi government fearing these sites might become sites of association in worship beside Allah ("shirk").