International Hajj Conference in Turkey
The Presidency of Religious Affairs in Türkiye, with broad Arab and Islamic participation, launched on Thursday, April 2, 2021, Hajj Conference The international conference, which was held virtually at the headquarters of Religious Affairs, in the Turkish capital, Ankara, amid virtual participation, for those who were unable to attend from outside the country, in response to the repercussions of Corona epidemic. The conference, which lasted for two days, witnessed the participation of the head of the Syrian Hajj Authority, Muhammad Abu al-Khair Shukri, the inspector of the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments, Hatem Jamil al-Suheimat, the Deputy Minister of Endowments of Afghanistan, Muhammad Othman Tariq, the Nigerian Minister of Hajj, Zikrullah Hassan Alakunla, the Somali Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Omar Ali Robla, and the General Director of Hajj and Umrah Services in “Religious Affairs” in Turkey, Ramzi Bergan.
Organizing the Hajj ritual during the Corona pandemic
In the opening speech, the head of Turkish Religious Affairs, Professor Ali Erbaş, said, “Hajj is like a global conference that embodies unity among Muslims every year, stressing that one of the most important goals of the International Hajj Conference is to present new ideas about organizing this worship, in a way that suits the circumstances and requirements of the times.” Professor Erbaş added, “The conference constitutes a platform for discussing the material and moral issues of Hajj in detail,” explaining that “the Corona epidemic and other contemporary issues will form a new point of view on organizing Hajj worship in the coming years.” Erbash confirmed that the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Turkey, in early last March, issued a statement in which it clarified some details related to the 2021 Hajj and Umrah season, and the procedures that are being worked on regarding that, and stated that “based on many questions received from our citizens about the performance of Hajj and Umrah rituals for the current year 2021, we clarify that since the Hajj in 2020 did not take place due to the Corona crisis, the registration rights for pilgrims continue until 2021.”
WHO recommendations
The statement added, “Negotiations are underway with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, regarding the 2021 Hajj season, and the decisions that will be taken in this regard will be shared,” noting that “Umrah visits will not take place, as Saudi Arabia has postponed any procedures related to this matter, until after the blessed month of Ramadan.” The final statement of the conference pointed out that “Saudi Arabia is taking the recommendations of the World Health Organization into consideration, as the Kingdom temporarily suspended visits to Umrah and the Prophet’s Mosque, due to the spread of the Corona virus, and announced a curfew throughout the cities of Mecca and Medina, 24 hours a day. The conference called on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has the honor of hosting the Sacred House and the feelings of Hajj, to be open to all suggestions and consultations related to organizing the greatest collective Islamic obligation, in In light of the spread of the epidemic around the world, and for Islamic countries to lead a collective campaign for comprehensive combat against the epidemic, especially in the holy sites.”
