New Hajj application asks: ‘Are you Shia?’

[The SiLent crY]

“Saudi Arabia will not entertain any Hajj application from aspirants that fail to specify whether the applicant is Shia or Sunni,” said officials. PHOTO: REUTERS


ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pilgrims wishing to perform Hajj this year will have to declare whether they are Shia on their Hajj application forms if they have any hopes of making the sacred pilgrimage.


Confirming that the conditions had been forward by Saudi Arabia, government officials responsible for making Hajj arrangements said, “Saudi Arabia will not entertain any Hajj application from aspirants that fail to specify whether the applicant is a Shia or a Sunni.”


Taking Saudi requirement seriously, the government has added a question on page eight of the Hajj application form with the question “Are you Shia.”


The Ministry of Religious Affairs Spokesperson Muhammad Farooq said, “Aspirants are supposed to fill it with: ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.”


Riyadh has made it mandatory for all Hajj pilgrims to declare their sect as it fears that sectarian tensions could rise in the kingdom owing to the conflict in Yemen.


“Saudis do not want a repeat of the 1987 demonstrations during the Hajj pilgrimage, which led to the deaths of over 400 people in Makkah,” a senior official of Pakistan Hajj mission observed.


Religious affairs ministry officials, who are facilitating applicants (under government scheme) for getting visa, said the Saudi authorities also slightly amended the new Hajj visa form requirements. Though officials insisted that there was no such written instruction from Saudi authorities. But they said that the decision to insert the question was taken at a high level.


On the other hand, the religious affairs ministry spokesperson claimed that the question had been added on the request of representatives of Shia community in the country in order to prevent exploitation of the ‘mehram’ rule by Sunni women for performing hajj. Shia women, unlike their Sunni counterparts, can perform Hajj without a ‘mehram’. There have been reports that Sunni women have in the past exploited this provision.


Commenting on the new condition put forward by the Saudi Arabia, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Tahir Ashrafi said that he supports the Saudi move, adding that every country has the right to set new terms and condition to ensure better security.


“It’s not a new move. Pilgrims should abide by Saudi laws and declare their sect. Pilgrims are treated equally regardless of their sect,” he stated.


Amin Shaheedi, a representative of the Shia community in the Council for Islamic Ideology, said that, “We have no problem with this new addition. If Saudis are satisfied with this new move, Shia community is ready to abide by newly amended laws.”

Source : New Hajj application asks: ‘Are you Shia?’ - The Express Tribune

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Sectarian is being imposed upon Pakistan by Wahhabi Saudi regime currently ruling Makkah and Madina. It is time Muslims have Vatican like administration for Muslim holy places in Arabia.

 

[Falcon29]

@syedali73 @azzo @others

Let's have mature discussion on this. What are your thoughts? The recent conflicts in Syria and elsewhere have raised tensions between Sunnis and Shias. The average Sunni/Shia basically can't restrain and hatred spreads. The smarter ones try to offer opinions but their opinions can't impact masses. On one hand, in past Iran has attempted to cause problems in Hajj. Saudi Arabia fears that after Yemen/Syria , Iran will set sights on Saudi Arabia and instigate its pilgrims into causing disorder this year at hajj. So I understand Saudi Arabia has fears. Problem is in general many Shia's view Saudi Arabia as enemy state, including saudi Shias. And they have attempted violence before. So I understand their concerns. But I don't see how speciyfing sect will change that? Will they follow or check background of Shia applicants?

 

[rockstar08]

why there are Shia and Sunni on the first place ? when Prophet came up with a single Religious identity ?

 

[Indus Falcon]

Sectarian is being imposed upon Pakistan by Wahhabi Saudi regime currently ruling Makkah and Madina. It is time Muslims have Vatican like administration for Muslim holy places in Arabia.

It was imposed on us when khomeini came to power and the mullahs in Pakistan went nuts. Secondly given the fact that Iranians do not respect the sanctity of Makkah e.g. '87 riots and the situation in Syria and Yemen, you can't blame the Saudis for taking their security seriously.

 

[Metanoia]

It was imposed on us when khomeini came to power and the mullahs in Pakistan went nuts. Secondly given the fact that Iranians do not respect the sanctity of Makkah e.g. '87 riots and the situation in Syria and Yemen, you can't blame the Saudis for taking their security seriously.

Really? How many Pakistani Shias have you seen desecrating any holy sites whatsoever?

And how did you link the '87 riots to current situation in Yemen and Syria? You said Iranians don't respect the sanctity of Makkah and then you conveniently joined Yemen and Syria as examples :-/...very strange.

You mentioned it is the Iranians who caused the trouble in '87...nearly 3 decades ago....why should the Pakistanis Shias suffer?

Have some perspective.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

It was imposed on us when khomeini came to power and the mullahs in Pakistan went nuts. Secondly given the fact that Iranians do not respect the sanctity of Makkah e.g. '87 riots and the situation in Syria and Yemen, you can't blame the Saudis for taking their security seriously.

Do the arabs ? Siege of Kaba?

 

[Indus Falcon]

Really? How many Pakistani Shias have you seen desecrating any holy sites whatsoever?

And how did you link the '87 riots to current situation in Yemen and Syria? You said Iranians don't respect the sanctity of Makkah and then you conveniently joined Yemen and Syria as examples :-/...very strange.

You mentioned it is the Iranians who caused the trouble in '87...nearly 3 decades ago....why should the Pakistanis Shias suffer?

Have some perspective.

You seem to be unaware of the number of Iranians and afghanis running around on Pakistani Passport.

Do the arabs ? Siege of Kaba?

That was a delusional group. Well taken care of.

So that is your justification for the iranians going nuts in '87?

 

[Metanoia]

You seem to be unaware of the number of Iranians and afghanis running around on Pakistani Passport.

Really...that's your argument? I have lived in Makkah and Madinah....yup...lived. The Iranians visit in huge group with their own tourist group or whatever....3 decades have passed on peacefully. Those Iranians who made the trouble 30 years ago were all Iranian nationals...none of them had a Pakistani passport.

The reason some Iranians and many Afghans use Pakistani passport is due to economic reasons rather than to go to holy sites and have a rave party.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

That was a delusional group. Well taken care of.

So that is your justification for the iranians going nuts in '87?

Would would I need to justify the actions of Iran? Why are you defending arabs though ?

Iranian mullahs are ape shit,.. But arab mullahs aren't less .. Heck they are more vile... Apart fron Seige of Kaba (Firing and harming the Island holiest places).. One only has to look at al Qaeda,ttp, ISIS and so on..

It was imposed on us when khomeini came to power and the mullahs in Pakistan went nuts. Secondly given the fact that Iranians do not respect the sanctity of Makkah e.g. '87 riots and the situation in Syria and Yemen, you can't blame the Saudis for taking their security seriously.

And u thought it was imposed by wahabi terrorist bastards like SSP,lashkars e jhangvi etc..

 

[Serpentine]

It was imposed on us when khomeini came to power and the mullahs in Pakistan went nuts. Secondly given the fact that Iranians do not respect the sanctity of Makkah e.g. '87 riots and the situation in Syria and Yemen, you can't blame the Saudis for taking their security seriously.

Some Pakistanis will go as far as selling their own nation to bring excuses for Gulf Arab actions.

Some terrorists in Pakistan have went 'nuts' because of a revolution in Iran, instead of blaming the source of their ideology which has caused only death and bloodshed throughout the world, you have only learned to blame Iran like a broken record.

If some day, Saudis tell you to kiss our feet in order to enter Saudi Arabia some may justify it by bringing up the usual bogeyman: Iran.

Even the smallest amount of national identity and patriotism and dignity can not be found in some people.

 

[beast89]

Sectarian is being imposed upon Pakistan by Wahhabi Saudi regime currently ruling Makkah and Madina. It is time Muslims have Vatican like administration for Muslim holy places in Arabia.

twice they sent 2 religious imams who criticised parliament's decsion

 

[pkuser2k12]

why there are Shia and Sunni on the first place ? when Prophet came up with a single Religious identity ?

plz use (P.B.U.H) .....

 

[Sugarcane]

@syedali73 @azzo @others

Let's have mature discussion on this. What are your thoughts? The recent conflicts in Syria and elsewhere have raised tensions between Sunnis and Shias. The average Sunni/Shia basically can't restrain and hatred spreads. The smarter ones try to offer opinions but their opinions can't impact masses. On one hand, in past Iran has attempted to cause problems in Hajj. Saudi Arabia fears that after Yemen/Syria , Iran will set sights on Saudi Arabia and instigate its pilgrims into causing disorder this year at hajj. So I understand Saudi Arabia has fears. Problem is in general many Shia's view Saudi Arabia as enemy state, including saudi Shias. And they have attempted violence before. So I understand their concerns. But I don't see how speciyfing sect will change that? Will they follow or check background of Shia applicants?

What mature discussion is required, this has been there for long time and reason for this question is differences in sect.
i.e. As per sunni mullahs a women can't go to hajj alone (without any mahram) and as per shia ruling she can go.

 

[jamahir]

plz use (P.B.U.H) .....

let us not get stuck in recent labels when @rockstar08 has put across a wise point.

writing a simple "hazrat muhammad" is infinitely better than using "pbuh" or "saw"... we should "be muslim" rather than "look muslim".

what would you use for jesus??