"The association, an offshoot of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, will bear the whole cost of their pilgrimage," said Sheikh Khaled Romaih Al-Romaih, secretary-general of the association.
He said the association would host new Muslims from European countries such as Britain, Italy, Belgium and Ukraine in addition to pilgrims from Latin American countries including Brazil.
"The association would arrange for a number of Islamic scholars and preachers in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to educate and guide the pilgrims on the rituals of Haj as well as clear their doubts on religious topics. Islamic study classes and lectures will also be delivered on the dos and don'ts of performing the rituals," he said.
According to Al-Romaih, the pilgrims will be selected in coordination with Islamic centers concerned in those countries.
"Priority will be given to those countries with the largest number of new Muslims. Selection will also be made from online applicants at the association's website (www.4newmuslims.org) fulfilling all criteria and conditions," he said.
Al-Romaih said new Muslims who have already performed Haj would not be considered. "Only those who embraced Islam six to 12 months ago would be entitled to apply. The applications, attached with the certificate showing when the applicant embraced Islam, should be presented to the Islamic centers concerned," he said.
The association meets all expenses of guest pilgrims, including their transportation, accommodation and Haj visa fee.
"Officials of the organization will receive the pilgrims at the airport, and they will be provided with accommodation at hotels in the central Haram areas in Makkah and Madinah," he said. Al-Romaih said that the special Haj program for new Muslims would include conducting cultural competitions and distribution of prizes and souvenir gifts.
"After the performance of their obligatory rituals, they will be taken on a 10-day trip to Madinah. Their tour includes visiting historical Islamic sites and the King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex during their stay in the city.”
The association is a nonprofit organization mainly concerned with looking after the affairs of new Muslims worldwide, in coordination with various Islamic institutions and establishments working in the same field.
More than 400 new Muslims have so far been benefited from its Haj sponsorship program. They include reverts from Europe, Latin America and Africa, as well as the United States, Japan and Australia.
According to the Central Haj Committee, as many as 300,000 pilgrims have already arrived from abroad for Haj this year. The committee, which met in Makkah on Saturday, discussed the Haj plans of the Health Affairs Department, Makkah police, Civil Defense, Red Crescent Authority and the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques.
