The Hajj Minister, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed bin Hamza Asaad Al-Hajjar is commended by the Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK for taking strong action against a substantial number of Hajj/Umrah service providing companies for their violation of the Saudi regulations and providing poor service to Hajj/Umrah Pilgrims. Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK also urged the ministers to help and protect a vast majority of the pilgrims around the world who are suffering from extreme hardship, difficulties, mental anguish, and financial exploitation at the hands of some Hajj/Umrah service providers including airlines and the hotel industry. The minister was also urged to address the issue of selling Hajj/Umrah visas in black market by some Hajj Ministry approved tour and travel operators to unscrupulous and rogue tour and travel operators. Rather than organising the Pilgrimage package; approved tour and travel operators are making a quick profit by only selling the Hajj/Umrah visas. These approved operators are required to organise the whole journey including flights, accommodation, and transport and they are strictly forbidden to sell only Hajj/Umrah visas according to the Hajj Ministry directives. This is causing a lot of problems because the Pilgrims end up paying very high rates for their Hajj/Umrah package for poor services rendered by these unauthorised scrupulous and rogue tour and travel operators. Khalid Pervez, General Secretary of Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK said that “the Hajj Minister Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed should continue taking strict action to eliminate the growing culture of deception and immoral practices in the Hajj & Umrah service provider industry to enable guests of Allah (SWT) to perform their religious obligation in comfort and peace.”
