JEDDAH, 8 January 2005 — Saudi Arabia has issued over 1.2 million visas for pilgrims intending to perform Haj. Thursday was the last day given to Saudi diplomatic missions abroad to issue Haj visas, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
Ibrahim ibn Omar Al-Kharashi, deputy foreign minister for consular affairs, said Saudi embassies and consulates abroad stopped issuing Haj visas for pilgrims of various nationalities wishing to come to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage. Thursday was the last day for issuing visas, he said in a statement. Kharashi said over 1.2 million pilgrims were granted visas.
He said Umrah visas issued during the current Islamic calendar year, 1425, increased by 16 percent to more than 2.6 million. The largest number of Umrah pilgrims came during Ramadan. The number of Umrah pilgrims during the previous year was 2.26 million. The largest number of Umrah pilgrims came from Egypt, 697,969, followed by Iran, 328,785, and then Pakistan, 304,722. A total of 184,458 Umrah visas were issued for Jordanian pilgrims and 159,606 for Syrian pilgrims.
All Muslims are required to make Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam, at least once in their lifetime, if they have the means to do so. Official figures put the total number of pilgrims performing last year’s Haj at 1,892,710, with 1,419,706 from abroad and 473,004 Saudis and other residents of the Kingdom.
Al-Kharashi said issuing Haj visas is linked to health conditions that must be met before any visa is granted. Pilgrims must show they have received the required vaccination to ensure their safety as well as the safety of other pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia has offered SR339,000 to finance the Haj arrangements for 39 relatives of 13 Indians who died in the stampede during the last annual pilgrimage, according to Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed.
“Arrangements to bring three relatives from each of the 13 stampede victims are in progress, as the Kingdom has advised the Saudi diplomatic mission in India to issue Haj visas to them,” Dr. Sayeed told reporters on Thursday night.
Out of a total of 82,000 coming through the Haj Committee of India (HCI), 64,000 have already arrived. The last set of flights from India will arrive on Jan. 17, marking the end of the first phase of transporting Indians for the pilgrimage. “All pilgrims are being sent to their designated buildings in Makkah as they arrive at the Haj Terminal,” he said.
There has been no adverse impact of tsunami on the travel plan of incoming pilgrims, he said.
In all 27 deaths have been reported among the incoming Indian pilgrims between Dec. 13 and Jan. 6. They include 22 who came through the HCI and five through tour operators. Only one among the HCI pilgrims has been an accidental death involving a woman from Kashmir. A car mowed her down on Jan. 4, according to Haj Consul A. Majid Padar.
In all 127,000 Indians are expected to perform Haj this time. Aside from those coming through the HCI, 45,000 are coming through private tour operators.
Meanwhile, official sources in Dhaka said yesterday that the Kingdom had provided complimentary Haj facilities to 21 Bangladeshis who lost their close relatives in the stampede in Mina last year.
Bangladesh lost seven of its Haj pilgrims last year during the stampede. Three members from each of the victim’s family will perform Haj at the expenses of the Saudi government.
