Islamic Ministry files police complaint over Mash’ar Tours case

Islamic Ministry has filed a police complaint against Al-Mash’ar Tours for collecting money from the public under the ruse of taking them to Umrah without the Ministry’s approval and leaving dozens of pilgrims who undertook Umrah with the group stranded in Saudi Arabia, unable to return to the Maldives.

The Ministry, in a statement, noted having received complaints of collecting money from the public under the ruse of having sought permit from the Ministry to escort pilgrims on Umrah and complaints of dozens of pilgrims who traveled to Umrah this Ramadan being left stranded in Mecca.

Henceforth, the Ministry said a complaint has been filed with the Police for investigation, stressing groups were not permitted to escort pilgrims to Umrah without a permit under regulation on escort pilgrims to Umrah.

“Al-Mash’ar Tours’ Managing Director Ali Farish is also the Managing Director of Al-Mashar Hajj and Umrah Company of which we have revoked the permit,” the Ministry noted.

The Ministry advised against making payments to the company or Farish to go to Umrah and sharing information related to one’s Umrah with them.

They also noted that making payments to a party that does not have the permit to escort pilgrims to Umrah constitutes to a violation of the regulation.

“We bring it to the attention of the public that individuals facing consequences arising from violating the regulation will have to bear responsibility for them,” the statement read.

Many people have become victims of fraudulent practices of Hajj and Umrah groups in violation of the stipulated regulations.

A list of groups permitted to escort pilgrims to Umrah is available on Islamic Ministry’s website. 50 groups have the permit to accompany pilgrims, of which permits of four expired last month.

The increased amount of fraud in relation of Hajj and Umrah has prompted the government to only allow Maldives Hajj Corporation to accompany pilgrims to Hajj.