More than 11 thousand Muslim pilgrims from Russia will be able to go on the Hajj - pilgrimage to the holy places of Islam in Mecca and Medina in 2022, the quotas for foreign countries in 2022 reduced by about half, Mufti Rushan Abbyasov, Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims (DUM RF) of the Russian Federation, said at a press conference on Thursday.
In 2020 and 2021, it was impossible to go on the Hajj by decision of the Saudi authorities because of quarantine restrictions. The main Hajj rituals will take place in 2022 from July 7 to 12.
"This year, 1 million believers will be able to visit (Saudi Arabia during the Hajj - TASS), the quotas for everyone were reduced by 55%. If the quota for Russian Muslims before the pandemic was 25,000 people, at present it is 11,318 people, and that is how many pilgrims this year from Russia will be able to visit the holy places", said Abbyasov.
He recalled that before the pandemic, more than 2 million worshipers from other countries were able to travel to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimages.
The deputy head of the DUM RF also said that Ilyas Umakhanov, commissioner for the Hajj, will hold a meeting in the Federation Council on Friday. The main Muslim religious boards, which organize pilgrimages, and registered tour operators will discuss issues of preparation for the Hajj.
In particular, according to Abbyasov, issues of air transportation are important. Although with the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions there are certain difficulties, but, as noted, pilgrims from Russia will be able to travel to Saudi Arabia "through third countries, because there are good and friendly relations with the Arab-Islamic world".
Performing Hajj rituals in 2022 is allowed to Muslims who are fully vaccinated with vaccines against COVID-19 approved by the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia. These include the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. In addition, foreigners must present a negative PCR test at the border done no later than 72 hours before entering the kingdom. Pilgrims are instructed to observe all sanitary measures and requirements.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS