LONDON –– The Association of British Hujjaj (ABH) — a UK-based Haj/Umrah organization — launched an awareness campaign related to the health and safety of pilgrims recently at the House of Lords. Around 25,000 British pilgrims will join an estimated two million pilgrims in Makkah this year. To support this prestigious event, members of the House of Lords, government officials, diplomats and community dignitaries were present.
Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, Patron of ABH, and Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed from MDDA, said that to perform Haj in the safest and best possible manner pilgrims must be aware of all its rituals. They said that all pilgrims should also take care of their health and safety at all times because there is always a high risk of contracting infectious diseases among large crowds. Ahmed also praised the facilities provided by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to pilgrims. Lord Phil Hunt, Deputy Leader of House of Lords, commended the hard work and continuous efforts made over a decade by ABH to ensure the well-being of pilgrims. He assured his full support toward this noble and humanitarian cause for helping and protecting the British Haj pilgrims from hardship and difficulties.
Dr. Syed Raza Hussain from ABH strongly urged the prospective pilgrims to safeguard against infectious diseases such as meningitis. Hence, all pilgrims are required to receive a meningitis vaccination before they leave for Haj. The officials from Police, Trading Standards Department, and ABTA also spoke and ensured that the government authorities will make every effort to help and protect British pilgrims from exploitation at the hands of unscrupulous and rogue tour and travel operators. At the event, Birmingham City Council's Trading Standards Department was awarded for their hard work and achievements to ensure the strict implementation of UK laws.
Khalid Pervez, General Secretary of ABH, said that the tragic accidents that took place during the Haj pilgrimage in recent years due to the outbreak of infectious diseases cost the lives of many British pilgrims and left the Britain Muslim community in grief. Pervez acknowledged the messages of support received from Shaikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais , Prince Charles, and other government officials.
