Post by Muhammad Yakub on Jan 1, 2005 19:24:46 GMT
As if Indonesia hadnt had a bad time with over 80,000 deaths with the tsunami and now ....
Thousands Of Indonesians Miss Out On Hajj
Indonesians forms the largest foreign community in the Hajj every year
By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Correspondent
KUALA LUMPUR, December 31 (IslamOnline.net) - While Asian Muslims are already flying out of their respective countries to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, thousands of Indonesians are disappointed that they could not perform the holy ritual this year due to a government mishap.
This hajj season has been marred by the last-minute postponement of the pilgrimage for 30,000 people, although they had already paid the fees and were prepared for the travel.
Saudi Arabia did not grant Jakarta additional seats this year, citing the consensus within the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) that each member state be allocated one seat for every 1,000 Muslims in its population.
"From different embarkation points across Indonesia, some 200,000 Indonesians are on their way to Saudi Arabia while television images showed thousands still in shock for missing out due to a last minute mistake by the Indonesian authorities that got their hajj cancelled," said Rozdiza, whose parents are not going for the Hajj due to the government mistake, told IslamOnline.net.
"Many are still angered by the cancellation of their hajj by the government due to lack of quota from Saudi Arabia and it is clearly the fault of the Indonesian government," added Sofie Alwani, another young woman whose parents will also miss out on the hajj.
"My mother got her visa but my father did not. Hence they have to cancel," she told IOL, adding that even though her parents were disappointed, they were happy too that others got the chance to go.
Alwani said that many Indonesians had organized farewells, but were disappointed that their hajj was cancelled due to the quota problems.
Indonesians forms the largest foreign community in the hajj every year.
For this hajj season, the Indonesian government has chartered planes from national flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia and from Saudi Arabia Airlines to carry the pilgrims to and from Makkah.
Everything is taken care of; from the hotel where the pilgrims will be staying to the food they will be eating there though some Indonesians do prefer to be on their own in the holy land.
In Malaysia, the government has roundly organized the hajj pilgrim for thousands of Malaysians who are already on their way to Saudi Arabia.
A hajj package costs nearly $3000 per person in Malaysia, whereas in Indonesia it can go as high as $5000.
The hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is an obligation for able-bodied Muslims who can afford it at least once in a lifetime. The season is starting this December and will climax in February.
Thousands Of Indonesians Miss Out On Hajj
Indonesians forms the largest foreign community in the Hajj every year
By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Correspondent
KUALA LUMPUR, December 31 (IslamOnline.net) - While Asian Muslims are already flying out of their respective countries to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, thousands of Indonesians are disappointed that they could not perform the holy ritual this year due to a government mishap.
This hajj season has been marred by the last-minute postponement of the pilgrimage for 30,000 people, although they had already paid the fees and were prepared for the travel.
Saudi Arabia did not grant Jakarta additional seats this year, citing the consensus within the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) that each member state be allocated one seat for every 1,000 Muslims in its population.
"From different embarkation points across Indonesia, some 200,000 Indonesians are on their way to Saudi Arabia while television images showed thousands still in shock for missing out due to a last minute mistake by the Indonesian authorities that got their hajj cancelled," said Rozdiza, whose parents are not going for the Hajj due to the government mistake, told IslamOnline.net.
"Many are still angered by the cancellation of their hajj by the government due to lack of quota from Saudi Arabia and it is clearly the fault of the Indonesian government," added Sofie Alwani, another young woman whose parents will also miss out on the hajj.
"My mother got her visa but my father did not. Hence they have to cancel," she told IOL, adding that even though her parents were disappointed, they were happy too that others got the chance to go.
Alwani said that many Indonesians had organized farewells, but were disappointed that their hajj was cancelled due to the quota problems.
Indonesians forms the largest foreign community in the hajj every year.
For this hajj season, the Indonesian government has chartered planes from national flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia and from Saudi Arabia Airlines to carry the pilgrims to and from Makkah.
Everything is taken care of; from the hotel where the pilgrims will be staying to the food they will be eating there though some Indonesians do prefer to be on their own in the holy land.
In Malaysia, the government has roundly organized the hajj pilgrim for thousands of Malaysians who are already on their way to Saudi Arabia.
A hajj package costs nearly $3000 per person in Malaysia, whereas in Indonesia it can go as high as $5000.
The hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is an obligation for able-bodied Muslims who can afford it at least once in a lifetime. The season is starting this December and will climax in February.
