8th July, 2015
The Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK ABH, a national Hajj specific organisation, working for the welfare and wellbeing of Hajj/Umrah pilgrims, has extended its strong support to President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari who has directed all relevant agencies to address the challenge and menace of corrupt practices amongst the Hajj/Umrah service providers.
ABH strongly condemned a culture of corruption and malpractice promoted by some rogue and unscrupulous service providers who is tightening its grip within the Hajj/Umrah tour and travel industry. “This has now become a global phenomenon and its time to adopt a zero tolerance policy against these rogue service providers and their corruptions must be strongly dealt with,” UK ABH said in a statement issued from Birmingham.
“The most alarming aspect of this growing culture of exploitation and corruption is that it has plagued the Hajj/Umrah tour and travel industry to the extent that it is becoming a way of life.
“Values and norms have changed. The rogue and unscrupulous service providers have no hesitation to prey on vulnerable pilgrims including sick, elderly and disabled causing them immense hardship, mental anguish, trauma and difficulty. They take undue advantage of these pilgrims by charging extortionate prices for their services and in some cases pilgrims are left stranded as service providers disappear. The denial of basic human rights and dignity of the pilgrims is highly deplorable and must not be allowed in this civilised world.
“This extremely serious issue of malpractice and exploitation is affecting millions of Muslims worldwide. Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK has once again called upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take the lead along with other relevant governments from around the world to setup an international anti-corruption unit which should take responsibility to eliminate all sorts of corruption and malpractice amongst Hajj/Umrah service providers so that the pilgrims may perform their religious obligations in peace and harmony,” the statement read.