RIYADH: The Saudi authorities have imposed restrictions on operators from organizing packaged Umrah visits from Riyadh because of the possibility that some people may stay in Makkah to perform Haj and so contribute to overcrowding in the city. According to market sources, authorities have imposed restrictions on Umrah traffic from Riyadh for the past two weeks. All pilgrims going on Haj have to have a special permit, known in Arabic as a Tasriha. The authorities have a media campaign underway to warn residents and citizens about the “Haj Code”, which states that, “The law requires all citizens and residents who wish to perform the annual pilgrimage to obtain the official Haj permit. Those who violate this requirement will be subject to appropriate penalties.” Pilgrims have been asked to get proper permits. This is because of the fake permits which some pilgrims received from illegal operators last year and resulted in them being left stranded, unable to perform Haj. “Intending pilgrims, prior to the reservation of their seats, should ensure that they are in the right hands (operators),” the market source said. Apart from the permit, Haj pilgrims must also have proper vaccination certificates. Haj package rates from Riyadh have remained more or less the same this year. A packaged trip including transport, accommodation in Mina and Arafat costs between SR2,500 and SR4,300 and more. The Haj package rates are based on the proximity to the Jamarat (pillars symbolizing the Satan). Rates for pilgrims travelling by air are SR5,000 and more. Some Haj operators have orientation programs for intending pilgrims. Muhammad Khairuddin, a Malaysian national, said he booked with an operator for SR4,300, including food, transport and a Haj-orientation program. A group of alumni from New Delhi-based Jamia Millia Islamia have announced a Haj-orientation program for intending pilgrims. “Based on previous experience when intending pilgrims were found to be unaware of several important aspects of Haj, the Jamia alumni have decided to organize the Haj orientation program,” said Ghizal Mehdi, one of the organizers. He said Muhammad Najeeb Qasmi, who has a Ph.D from Jamia Millia Islamia and is an Islamic scholar and an author of a book on Haj, will deliver a lecture on the rituals. “Qasmi makes extensive use of easy-to-understand maps, charts, and demonstrates various aspects of Haj with a participatory and interactive approach,” Mehdi said. The Haj-orientation program will be organized on Nov. 10 at Cocoa Palm Restaurant. Dr. Musharraf Ali of Dr. Al-Mishari Hospital in the capital will make a brief presentation on communicable diseases and the precautions that pilgrims should take during Haj. Qasmi told Saudi Gazette that prior permission to conduct the Haj-orientation program was obtained from the relevant authorities. “We have received overwhelming response from the intending pilgrims,” he said. Qasmi said he has been asked by one of the Haj operators to address a similar Haj-orientation program at King Saud University. “The program is organized for university doctors and professions,” he said. He said another Haj-orientation program will be organized for a larger audience on Friday at an istiraha (rest house) in Riyadh.
