Indians not to travel for Haj; UAE welcomes move

By Eudore R.Chand

NEW DELHI 24 June 2020: Muslims from India will not go to the Holy Land to perform Haj this year, the Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, announced here.

This follows a phone conversation between Naqvi and the Minister for Haj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten.

The Saudi Minister briefed Naqvi in detail about the Kingdom’s efforts to fight Covid-19 infections. He suggested to India not to send pilgrims for Haj this year.

Some 200,000 Indian Muslims had performed Haj in 2019. Half of them were women. About 213,000 persons had already registered to travel for Haj this year, Naqvi told a press conference, said Wam.

He said the government will immediately refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction following the Kingdom’s preventive and precautionary measures during the 1441 H/ 2020 AD Haj season.

UAE Fatwa Council praises Saudi Arabia’s decision

ABU DHABI: The UAE Fatwa Council praised the decision of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia to limit this year’s Haj pilgrimage to Muslims of various nationalities residing in the kingdom, to protect the safety and health of people and facilitate the pilgrimage.

The council stressed that everyone has to follow the instructions of the Saudi government, highlighting its responsibility to take care of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and protect their health.

Shaikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, President of the UAE Fatwa Council, said that the decision is in the interest of all Muslims, due to the risk of spreading coronavirus.

Muslims support Saudi Arabia and appreciate its management and supervision of the Haj, as well as its keenness to ensure the safety of pilgrims, he added.

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