Ethiopian Muslims Head To Mecca For Hajj

Some of the 8,000 Ethiopian Muslims allowed by Saudi authorities to make the annual Hajj pilgrimage have set out for Mecca, while the rest are set to follow in coming days, an Ethiopian official said Friday.



Jibril Temam, Hajj and Umrah committee director-general at Ethiopia's Supreme Islamic Affairs Council, told Anadolu Agency that the council would file a request with Riyadh next year to raise the number of pilgrims allowed from Ethiopia.



"Many could not make it [this year] as the number is limited," Temam told AA.



"Next year, we will request the concerned bodies to enable more people to make it to Saudi Arabia to perform the religious obligation," he said.



In the past, Temam said, Ethiopian adults below the age of 40 were not allowed to make the journey due to fears they might stay on in oil-rich Saudi Arabia illegally.



"[This year] we have agreed with the Saudi embassy in Ethiopia for adults below the age of 40 to be allowed [to perform the pilgrimage] after fulfilling the necessary requirements," he noted.



Temam said the council had overseen a "successful" registration process for this year's Hajj pilgrimage, as well as vaccination requirements.



"We have also reached agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to transport the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from September 10 to 28," he added.



Hajj is the fifth "pillar" of Islam. According to Muslim belief, every able-bodied adult Muslim – who can afford it – must perform the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.



By Abebech Tamene



englishnews@aa.com.tr



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