President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the launch of an online system to form a transparent queue for pilgrims wishing to go on the Hajj. The introduction of an online queue is expected to help combat fraud and bribery, as the current system for selecting pilgrims is closed and bureaucratized, which allows corrupt officials and dishonest entrepreneurs to make money on gullible Muslims, by promising them a trip to sacred places.
The Committee for Religious Affairs of Uzbekistan urged believers not to trust advertisements offering to organize a pilgrimage. Only the Committee for Religious Affairs and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Uzbekistan are authorized to enter into agreements with the relevant ministries of Saudi Arabia, institutions, hotels, transport, and food enterprises that provide services to pilgrims. This year, Uzbekistan’s State Security Service reported on several cases of fraud, where criminals took money from believers, allegedly for sending them to Mecca.
The intention to create an online queue for those going on the Hajj was announced in a government decree signed in June 2017. Applicants must submit their desire to go to Saudi Arabia to self-government bodies (mahalla committees) and the lists were sent to city or district administrations, who entered applicants into an online queue. Thus, the authorities of the republic monopolized the pilgrimage to sacred places, which practically closed the selection process to outsiders.
This new online queue system for Hajj pilgrims announced by the President during his election campaign aims to make the selection process for Hajj pilgrims more transparent, accessible and convenient. It also aims to eradicate false travel companies and intermediaries that promise to organize a pilgrimage to Mecca, which over the years has been a growing problem in the country.
It will be interesting to see how the procedure of Hajj pilgrim selection changes with the introduction of this online queue system. Nevertheless, the President’s announcement is a positive step towards eliminating frauds and scams related to Hajj pilgrimages that have been prevalent in the country for a while.
