Indonesia calls on Saudi Arabia to take decision about allowing Hajj
The outbreak of coronavirus has thrown into question the tradition of Hajj pilgrimage, Indonesia has called upon Saudi Arabia to discuss whether or not it should allow the Holy Pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage to Umrah was also suspended in March, while the Saudi government has asked Muslims to postpone their Hajj 2020 preparations because of the deadly pandemic.
However, by the end of July, Saudi authorities will decide whether or not they will go ahead with the Hajj this year.
Indonesia ‘s ministry of religious affairs said a decision should be made before Ramadan’s fasting month ends.
“We hope the official decision on whether Hajj will go ahead or be canceled will be announced soon,” ministry spokesman Oman Fathurahman said.
“Until now the Ministry of Religious Affairs has yet to sign any contracts or pay the down payment for Haj services in Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Pilgrimage is a key earner for the kingdom, but risks becoming a major source of infection if pilgrims flock to the religious sites of Makkah.
Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world and it has registered at least 231,000 of its people to take part in the pilgrimage this year.
About 2.5 million people traveled from around the world to Saudi Arabia last year to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage.
Earlier, Federal Religious Affairs Minister Noor ul Haq Qadri said mid-of-Ramadan should make a statement on Hajj 2020.
According to the information, the minister said Pakistan’s government is in constant touch with officials of the Saudi Hajj ministry on this subject. The Kingdom authorities had currently barred them from signing deals with the Hajj arrangements.
Noor ul Haq Qadri further said the Kingdom is studying the COVID-19 pandemic situation and the Saudi authorities have various options for enabling prosecutions of the pilgrims.
