DUSHANBE, December 14, Asia-Plus — Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has assumed payment of expenses on continuation of pilgrimage of a group of Tajik and Kyrgyz Muslims who got stuck in UAE, information posted on Russian website Russkiye Emiraty yesterday said.
Referring to the news agency BAM, the information, in particular, said some 600 Tajik and Kyrgyz Muslims had found themselves in irregular situation in UAE, without means and proper travel documents, becoming victims of fraud.
The pilgrims allegedly paid $5,000 each to brokers for organizing their pilgrimage to
Mecca
but were defrauded.
Russkiye Emiraty cited the news agency BAM as saying that several hundreds of Tajik and Kyrgyz pilgrims got stuck in Sharjah,
Dubai
and El Fujearah, where they stayed for several days without entry visas and air tickets for flying to
Saudi Arabia
, and charitable organization of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Nahyan paid all expenses on their travel to
Saudi Arabia
.
In the meantime, Abdughaffor Abdujabborov, an official with the Ministry of Culture (MoC) told Asia-Plus that it could not be ruled out that such situation could happen.
“The ministry received information that a certain firm was illegally dealing with processing documents for making Hajj practically on conclusion of registration of pilgrims,” Abdujabborov said, adding that no company had applied to the ministry for license for organizing privately funded trip to
Saudi Arabia
.
“Indeed, representatives from the State Unitary Enterprise Sayoh (state-controlled tourism company) applied to the ministry; they wanted to participate in organizing trip to Saudi Arabia, but we refused their application,” said the MoC official, “”All pilgrims sent via the Ministry of Culture have successfully reached Saudi Arabia.”
The MoC directorate for religious affairs (DRA) has controlled participation in the Hajj, and 5,000 Tajik Muslims have made the Hajj this year.
In the past, privately organized transport to
Saudi Arabia
was available in
Tajikistan
, but in 2005, the Tajik government banned privately funded trips to
Saudi Arabia
and required air travel for the Hajj, citing hygiene and safety concerns as reasons for limiting other means of travel.
