New visa fee puts into question Chechen pilgrims’ travel

Costs for the repeated Hajj have increased for pilgrims significantly after Saudi Arabia imposed a fee in the amount of 540 US dollars. In Chechnya, many believers doubt that the trip will be affordable for them.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that this year, the quota for Hajj allocated by the authorities of Saudi Arabia for pilgrims from Chechnya is 2600 people. On June 30, the Chechen Muftiate completed the reception of documents from the people who wished to make a pilgrimage. The region's quota for pilgrims was not completely covered. That fact was explained by an increase in the travelling costs for pilgrims.

"This year, the authorities of Saudi Arabia have introduced a visa fee in the amount of 540 US dollars for the pilgrims who perform the Hajj for the second time," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by an official from the Chechen Muftiate.

The pilgrims themselves say that the introduction by Saudi Arabia of the visa fee for the pilgrims performing the Hajj repeatedly put them before the question of whether to go on a trip.

"540 US dollars are more than 32,000 roubles. Earlier, I have already performed the Hajj. This year, I thought to perform the Hajj for my mother, and then that news about a fee appeared. I travel for the Hajj solely at my own expenses, and I saved money for years for that. It is impossible to borrow money to go on the Hajj. I do not even know what to do now," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was in particular told by Sultan, a resident of the republic.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.