Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Zahir Ali has stated efforts are underway to draft a bill to protect the rights of Maldivians going on Hajj Pilgrimage.
Speaking to PSM News, Islamic Minister Dr. Zahir said the main purpose of the bill is to ensure companies taking Maldivian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia cannot violate their rights. He expressed hope the bill will resolve most of the issues currently faced by Maldivian pilgrims.
Speaking further, the Islamic Minister highlighted the concerns raised by pilgrims regarding Hajj companies overcharging them. He said the ministry is working on establishing a Hajj Portal as part of efforts to resolve the issue.
Several private organisations currently operate in the Maldives as Hajj and Umrah companies. There have been several cases involving companies overcharging pilgrims for the journey and not providing adequate services.
The Islamic Ministry said upon the establishment of the Hajj portal, all pilgrims will be required to register at the portal where they can choose an organisation to take them on the pilgrimage and make all the required payments in accordance with the available services, as shown in the portal.
Saudi Arabia grants 1,000 Hajj quotas for the Maldives every year. However, no Maldivian was able to go on Hajj this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions.