No hajj slots were granted against policies: Minister Shaheem

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said that no unjust actions had been taken, nor any undue influence exerted, in the granting of slots within the Hajj quota this year.

Sending 1000 underprivileged persons on Hajj pilgrimage on government expenses is a presidential pledge of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

Shaheem said that many rumours had arisen about an individual who had been granted a trip such as this through being selected in a draw amongst those on the register of the poor and needy. He appealed to the public to not politicize Hajj pilgrimage, as it is a practice across countries to send persons on Hajj under State expenses.

"The reason is, this concerns someone's prayers. We should not take away from the happiness of the pilgrims and their families. It is a great joy granted by Allah for someone to get the opportunity to go on Hajj. Their families share this happiness, their children rejoice with them," the Minister said.

The Minister assured that the pilgrims from amongst the underprivileged had been selected through a draw, and no undue influences had been exerted on the process.

"This does not have influence from any party, or any minister, or anyone at all. The names were selected in a draw in front of the media, school students had come to draw the names," he said.

"I am assuring you that those who received the chance through being on the list of poor, they are those who had been registered under the guidelines in place. There is not a single person that this government has added to that list."

The Minister said that the register of underprivileged persons had not been reviewed since 2021. Efforts to review the list have now begun, he said.