Hajj Archives - Page 5 of 5

Iran refuses to sign Hajj agreement, bans own pilgrims

by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World

Riyadh, (IINA) – Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Thursday that the Iranian delegation had refused to sign an agreement laying out arrangements for this year’s Hajj, Saudi Gazette reported.

The ministry said Iran has decided to ban its citizens from performing the pilgrimage. “Iran is the only country that refused to sign the agreement on Hajj. It insisted on a number of unacceptable conditions”, the ministry’s statement, carried by SPA, said, adding that Iran’s demands included the granting of visas inside Iran and transport arrangements that would evenly split the pilgrims between Saudi and Iranian airlines.

The Kingdom welcomes all pilgrims from around the world and from all nationalities and sectarian backgrounds and does not stop any Muslim from visiting the holy cities, but the visits must occur within the system and guidelines that organize Hajj affairs, the ministry said.

It also clarified that the Saudi authorities never imposed any ban on Iranian pilgrims from visiting the Kingdom to perform Umrah. “Instead, the ban had come from the part of the Iranian government since they take it as one of its many ways to put pressure on the Saudi government”, the statement said.

The ministry stated that Saudi Arabia’s “leadership, government and people welcome and are honored to serve Hajj and Umrah pilgrims as well as visitors to the two holy mosques from all nationalities, considering this service as the most important Islamic duty”.

Every year, the ministry invites officials responsible for pilgrimage affairs from Arab and Islamic countries, as well as f non-Muslim countries with a considerable Muslim population to visit the Kingdom to examine and discuss the arrangements and requirements for pilgrims from their respective countries. At least 78 countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, send their delegates to such talks every year.

Referring to this year’s Hajj arrangements, the ministry said that President of the Hajj Organization of Iran Saeed Oouhdi had been invited to come to the Kingdom to discuss the arrangements of Iranian pilgrims in line with a letter from the Minister of Hajj. Accordingly, a delegation headed by Oouhdi arrived and reviewed with the ministry officials all matters related with the Iranian pilgrims.

However, the delegation refused to sign the minutes of the agreement unless some conditions are met. Their demands included granting visas to their pilgrims from inside Iran and dividing transportation of pilgrims between the Saudi and Iranian airlines, contrary to the internationally recognized practice.

As for issuance of visas, the ministry has made it clear that they can obtain Hajj visas electronically by furnishing their pilgrims’ data, using the standard electronic system for the foreign pilgrims, the statement added.

Domestic Hajj companies allotted Mina camp sites

by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World

Mina Camp; Photo Credit kapl-hajj.org

Makkah (IINA) – The Ministry of Hajj on Sunday distributed camp sites for local Hajj companies in Mina to prepare accommodation for pilgrims who stay in the tent city for up to five days during the pilgrimage.

The ministry’s undersecretary, Hussein Al-Sharif, said the companies were allotted tents and specific locations early this year compared to previous years so they can make preparations well in advance before the pilgrims arrive. Preparations for Haj are in full swing, with around 10 ministries and government departments set to begin field work at the Holy Sites and getting offices ready to serve about a total of 3 million pilgrims expected this year. The agencies include the ministries of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Transport, Commerce, Interior, Haj, Water and Electricity and Health, the Tawafa establishments and the General Syndicate of Cars, which is responsible for the transportation of pilgrims. The ministries and departments are expected to begin sending field teams to the Holy Sites soon to prepare their offices and locations ready for early September.

This year, around 20,000 pilgrims are expected from Yemen, an increase of a 1,000 pilgrims compared to last year. Undersecretary at the Yemeni Haj Ministry Munir Mohammed Dabwan said Yemeni pilgrims would benefit from the numerous facilities being provided by the Saudi government to his country. Dabwan also said the number of the Yemeni pilgrims was within the allowed quota. The undersecretary expects the first batch of pilgrims from Yemen to arrive in the Kingdom on Aug. 30. “The arrival of the Yemeni pilgrims will be completed before Sept. 18.”

This year’s Haj will start tentatively on Sept. 21. Dabwan added that around 80 percent of Yemeni pilgrims have registered on the Saudi Haj Ministry’s e-portal. “We are currently discussing the possibility of granting the Yemeni pilgrims their Haj visas at the Saudi inlets, or setting up a special Saudi consular office inside the Yemeni territories,” he said. According to the undersecretary, pilgrims were chosen from the country’s all 22 provinces. “Not a single province was excluded,” he added. He said issues concerning the accommodation and transport of the Yemeni pilgrims were discussed during meetings with relevant Saudi authorities held as early as March.