The Saudi government has ruled that Muslims wishing to make a pilgrimage to Mecca this year must book through an official Saudi government website. This is causing a lot of unrest among Muslims in the West, reports the British channel BBC. Many have already booked with a specialized travel agency and are afraid that the pilgrimage cannot take place now or that they will lose their money – often thousands of euros.
The Saudi government’s new rules date from just a few days ago. The Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, will take place this year from 7 to 12 July. The Saudi government wants to admit a maximum of one million pilgrims. One must be younger than 65 and fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, it sounded earlier.
Last week, the competent minister of Saudi Arabia announced that Muslims from Europe, America and Australia must book their Mecca visit through the government website† A fourteen-day package holiday for Belgians costs between 3,915 and 7,207 euros. The places would be allocated via a lottery system, but the draw will not take place until June 13 and 14.
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Many Muslims are now complaining. Many who booked a trip to Mecca this year did so through a travel agency. What will happen to that booking? And even if one can cancel it, will the trip still be possible?
The Hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Any Muslim who is in good health and has sufficient financial means should do it at least once in his life.
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