Hajj ban & backlog crisis in upcoming years

by Tauqeer Abbas
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Shafaqna Pakistan: Hajj ban on international pilgrims for two consecutive years due to COVID-19 are expected to have a backlog crisis in upcoming years for many Muslim countries.

In Nigeria, a one-day seminar themed “Hajj, Communications and COVID-19 Pandemic” organized for Nigeria’s State Pilgrims Welfare Boards (SPWBs) was held on Tuesday to discuss this issue.

Speaking during a seminar organized for this purpose, Zikrullah Hassan, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), warned that new applicants may have a long wait ahead before they could have a chance to perform hajj, Nigeria’s Guardian reported.

“We have to get used to the queuing system and Nigeria won’t be the first to practice that system. In Indonesia and Malaysia, some people do not go to Hajj until after 20 years after they had paid. This is due to the numbers but I don’t think Nigeria would get as worst as that,” Hassan said.

Last month, Saudi authorities announced Hajj restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, About Islam reported. The Kingdom said no foreign pilgrims would be allowed to perform Hajj this year, setting a maximum of 60,000 pilgrims.

Source: Shafaqna English

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