KSA's Minister of Haj meets Turkish President of Religious Affairs

Source: Ministry of Haj, KSA. The Ministry of
Haj meets with the Turkish delegation on Hajj
2016.

His Highness, Dr Bandar bin Mohammed Hajar has met with his Highness the Turkish President of Religious Affairs, Dr Mehmet Görmez, as part of the Ministry of Haj's programme to receive Offices of Pilgrim Affairs heads, and its early preparations for Hajj 2016 (1437).

Both countries are full members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Turkey has an eighty-million population. Muslims represent 98% of the population.

During the meeting, Dr Bandar noted the plan adopted to coordinate with Offices of Pilgrim Affairs which will enable the preparations and needs of the Republic of Turkey pilgrims coming to perform Hajj. The organisation of Turkish pilgrims, their housing and transportation, and the services provided to them by Arbab Al-Tawaif Establishments, the Unified Agents Office, and General Cars Syndicate were discussed. 

Dr Hajar focused on promoting pilgrims' awareness, before arriving in the KSA, of compliance with the ministry's instructions regarding the transportation programme for safety's sake. Currently, the KSA receives pilgrims annually from 180 countries who speak some 200 languages.

His Highness the Turkish President of Religious Affairs in turn praised the major projects at the Two Holy Mosques, Makkah, and Madinah, that the government has executed to enable a tranquil, serene and solemn atmosphere for the pilgrims. His Highness also praised the organisation and cooperation of the Ministry of Haj and all relevant concerned authorities with Turkey's Office of Pilgrim Affairs, and concluded with wishes that 1437 will be a successful year.

Turkey has a pilgrim quota of 95,200 this year.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about the Ministry of Haj's overview of Hajj 2016