Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 14-10-2016
As the outcry over Umrah visas fees continue, an urgent meeting has been scheduled by social cohesive activist Yusuf Abramjee to discuss the proposed excessive visa costs of travelling to Makkah and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
The meeting is expected to take place on Sunday 11am at Jisa in Crosby, south of Johannesburg.
In recent weeks there has been scant information regarding visa costs both from the local Saudi Arabian embassy in South Africa and authorities in the kingdom.
The lack of clarity on the issue has prompted the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) to write to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) requesting their intervention with Saudi Arabia regarding visa charges for Umrah and Hajj for repeat pilgrims.
Secretary General of Jamiatul Ulama South Africa Moulana Ebrahim Bham who is also co-chairing the meeting says they have received a plethora of calls to address the issues of visa costs as many people intend on embarking for Umrah, especially during the December period.
“The matter has been covered in some sort of mystery, no one seems to know what is happening, the travel agents say they don’t know what’s happening, their visas have been blocked, they don’t get any Umrah visas.”
Ml Bham says unlike normal visas, an Umrah visa is not for tourist purposes as people go to Makkah and Medina for the sake of Ibaadat and for the pleasure of Allah.
He says there is concern that Umrah and Hajj has been made into such an elite type of situation that it takes away the poor people’s right to and the poor people’s capacity to be able to visit Makkah and Medina.
“Our we going to make Umrah and Hajj into something that’ll only be affordable to those who are wealthy and the poor people are the majority of the ummah who have such a burning desire to go to Makkah and Medina not for any other reason but for the sake of Islam, motivated by the love for Allah (SWT). Will they be deprived of this spiritual and great journey?”
Ml Bham says that the meeting is not intended to politicise the matter but rather encourage civil society who may be able to pressurise authorities in resolving the issue.
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