Egyptian journey businesses prosecuted for hajj fraud

The order comes within the wake of over 1,100 deaths, many because of excessive warmth, throughout the vacation season. Earlier within the week, diplomatic sources said that 658 of the lifeless have been Egyptians, 630 of them unregistered pilgrims.

– Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has additionally given orders to revoke the journey businesses’ working licenses and requested that the businesses be fined. The cash will go to the households of pilgrims who died, says a press release from the federal government.

It says the rise in deaths amongst unregistered Egyptian pilgrims could be traced again to some firms that “organized hajj journeys on personal visas, which forestall the holder from visiting Mecca”. Permits to go to the Holy Arch, which is the principle purpose of the pilgrimages, are distributed as quotas to a lot of international locations. These are once more distributed to the person traveler by a lottery.

Even amongst those that can get such a allow, the value of the journey implies that many select to attempt with out it, even when it may imply arrest and deportation from Saudi Arabia. This has grow to be extra fashionable after Saudi Arabia launched a common vacationer visa in 2019, making it simpler to go to the nation.

For Muslims, it’s a non secular responsibility to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca throughout their lifetime, if they’ve the means and alternative to take action.