Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The Haj Ministry is presently considering to keep the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah open throughout the year for Umrah pilgrims, minister Bandar Al-Hajjar has said. In an exclusive interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Hajjar said the holy sites will remain open for Umrah pilgrims on condition that there are no excessive religious practices and under the rules to be approved by the government. "We are considering the step in coordination with 20 other ministries and government departments which are involved in the Haj services," he explained. The minister also said his ministry will next Haj season make it obligatory on each pilgrim to wear the electronic bracelet which contains all data about him/her including name, Haj mission, address in the holy sites and other information that can be automatically retrieved any time. He said the ministry will also introduce smart electronic applications to provide better and more comprehensive services to the Guests of Allah. "We will complete our electronic portal which has so far been implemented by about 80 percent," he added. Hajjar said, under the portal, the ministry now has complete information about the real or fake service-providing companies inside the Kingdom and abroad. "Thanks to the portal, we now have a complete blacklist of the violating companies," Hajjar said threatening to withdraw the license of any company which is found to be substandard. He advised external pilgrims to browse the ministry's e-portal to know all the travel and tourism agencies which are licensed in their own countries to provide Haj services so as not to fall prey to the fake companies which will only embezzle their money. He said the ministry will also next Haj season start enlightening pilgrims via text messages on their mobile phones about the correct methods of doing the rituals and the legal safe conduct they should closely observe during their stay in the Kingdom. Hajjar asked all the Muslim countries and the Muslim communities in non-Islamic countries to enlighten their pilgrims to stay away from all publicity actions, secret meetings, demonstrations, tampering with the security of pilgrims, raising banners and flags containing unacceptable slogans, organizing political symposia or spreading sectarianism. He also urged them to ask their pilgrims to be committed to the program of ascending from Makkah to Mina and Arafat, the grouping from their tents to the Jamrat and the Grand Mosque, regulations preventing squatting on the Haram plazas or the streets in Mina and to strictly observe good behavior. Al-Hajjar said the ministry is currently considering to establish a new single institutional entity to represent the 48 Umrah companies before the ministry and other concerned Haj authorities. "The companies welcomed the idea which will open the door for the licensing of new Umah companies which may reach at least 100 firms in the coming days," the minister said.
