Hajj Stories by Doctor Salim Parker ‘I need to go home,’ I told my friend. He smiled and nodded understandingly. He lived in Madinah and whenever he left the city for whatever reason, he always could not wait to return home. I had just arrived in Madinah having completed Hajj the day before. In fact some Hujjaaj were still in the valley of Mina where they spent three days of […]
A delegation from the Anti Visa Fee Committee SA (AVC SA) met senior officials of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) today. The committee raised its serious concern about the excessive visa fees that have just been implemented worldwide. "We also stressed that in addition to Hajj and Umrah, tourists and South Africans working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are also affected," said AVFC SA co-chair, Yusuf […]
Two meetings in Cape Town and Johannesburg to discuss the umrah fee hike have unanimously agreed that umrah should not be boycotted. On Sunday, hundreds of concerned residents gathered in both cities to call for the visa increases to be scrapped. Saudi Arabia has increased visas from 350 riyals to 2000 riyals, which could equal R8000 to R10 000, and lead to many not being able to perform hajj and […]
As a meeting got underway in Cape Town, at the same time hundreds of Muslims met in Crosby, Johannesburg on Sunday to voice their opposition at the introduction of excessive visa fees for hajj and umrah. The Saudi Arabia Government recently announced the introduction of visa fees of SR 2000, or some R10 000. This has caused worldwide anger. Speaking at the public meeting, social activist and co-chair of the […]
A petition, called new Umarah Visa Fees Must Fall, has been circulating on social media calling for Saudi Arabian authorities to reconsider increasing visa charges for repeat haj and umrah pilgrims. More than 7300 supporters have thus far signed the petition. This follows a decision by Saudi authorities to impose a fee of 2,000 Saudi riyals, which converts to approximately R8 000, on any repeat pilgrims travelling to the kingdom. Last […]
Just as the Haj 2016 season ends, social media is abuzz with reports that both hajj and umrah visa fees have been revised for repeat pilgrims. According to the Saudi Gazette, the Ministry of Haj and Umra, which is located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is reportedly instituting new charges from Muharram 1, 1438. The article indicates that while first time hajj and umrah pilgrims will not be charged […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
