Draw of lots postponed as pilgrims would lose opportunity to travel with guardian

Drawing of lots for the 32 slots opened by the government to sponsor Hajj pilgrimage for the people who had paid due fees and were deceived by the Maleesha Hajj and Umra Group last year, have been postponed amongst differences of opinions.

The government has decided to provide 32 slots, for which the 126 people who had made payments to Maleesha Hajj and Umra Group last year were to draw lots.

Disagreements between the candidates at the drawing of lots event in Islamic Centre today had forced the Ministry of Islamic affairs to cancel event and postpone. The candidates argued that, when they paid Maleesha last year, they had made payments and arrangemented to make the pilgrimage accompanied by a male guardian. They would lose that opportunity if they were to draw lots, they said.

Some of the eligible candidates suggested that if a woman below the age 45 is selected, she may only be eligible if her male guardian is also selected, or has made arrangements to make the pilgrimage through other channels. A number of people present at the event had opposed this suggestion.

The event was scheduled to start at 11:00 am this morning, although the Islamic Ministry official decided to postpone the event after declaring that the event did not have the atmosphere to draw lots, early this afternoon.

Islamic Ministry has suggested lots be drawn between those who had not yet had the privilege of making the Hajj pilgrimage.