Efforts under way to increase Hajj pilgrim quota by 500

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that efforts are under way to facilitate 500 more pilgrims to go for Hajj from Maldives.

The President made this statement at the press conference held today prior to his departure to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

He said that he will make efforts during this trip to solve the problems faced by this year’s Maldivian Hajj pilgrims.

“I am quite confident that the 500 additional slots will be available soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, complaints have increased following money having been collected from over 200 people with the promise of taking them to Hajj under foreign country quotas.

The 500 additional slots, which are given to the Maldives every year, were not given this year.

By the time the organisers realised that the additional quota was not approved this year, they had already collected money from people.

Islamic Ministry has said that it is illegal to take people to Hajj under the quota for foreign countries.