200 people lose the opportunity to go for hajj due to reduction in quota

Two hundred Maldivians have lost the opportunity to go for hajj this year due to a decision by the government of Saudi Arabia to reduce the quota for Maldives from 1,000 to 800.

Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said at a press conference held today that this decision by the government of Saudi Arabia was informed to the Maldivian government yesterday.

He said that this is due to lack of space as a result of the ongoing work to extend the Haram in Mecca, and that the Saudi government had informed that they had no choice but to reduce the quota.

“We do everything we can to solve such problems. The relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia have informed that this decision will not change,” said Shaheem.

He said that only 22,000 people are able to perform the tawaf in one hour now as opposed to 48,000 earlier, due to the efforts to increase space at the area dedicated for tawaf.

Shaheem said that quotas have been reduced for all countries, and several countries have expressed concern regarding this issue. He urged people to accept the difficulties faced due to lack of space in Mecca.

“I urge you to humbly accept these things, and to cooperate with the wishes of the scholars’ council and government of Saudi Arabia,” he said.