JEDDAH: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Haj Program has hosted 36,000 pilgrims over the past 20 years.

Of this number, there were 13,000 family members of Palestinian martyrs who performed Haj, according to Sheikh Saleh Al-Asheikh, Islamic affairs minister. “The ministry has spared no effort to ensure the success of this program, and ensure that the guests could perform their rituals comfortably,” said Al-Asheikh.

Al-Asheikh said the program shows that the Kingdom cares about Muslims across the globe and that it allows believers to build solidarity based on the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

The minister said that this year the Kingdom hosted 1,400 pilgrims from 70 countries, including 1,000 family members of Palestinian martyrs. Many Muslims came from countries that were previously not covered by the program, he said.

He said that this year’s guests included some Muslims from countries that were not covered by the program previously, because the ministry wanted to ensure equitable treatment of believers worldwide.

This year Indonesia had 60 pilgrims, Malaysia 40, Philippines 50, Thailand 40, Myanmar 40, Vietnam 20, Cambodia 40, Sri Lanka 22, Nepal 20, India 42, Pakistan 60, Afghanistan 30, Bangladesh 40, and Kyrgyzstan 20, he said.

From Europe, Turkey had 20, Bosnia and Herzegovina 50, Romania 20, Bulgaria 30, Poland 10, Moldova 10, Germany 10, Austria 10, and Luxembourg five, the minister said.

From Africa, Niger had 30, Uganda 30, South Africa 30, Madagascar 20, Burundi 20, Mozambique 20, Comoros 20, Kenya 30, Senegal 30, Cameroon 30, Nigeria 30, South Sudan 100, and Ghana seven. From Cuba there were five, and 306 from 34 countries in North America and elsewhere.