Diyanet: Hajj cannot be performed with a tourist visa

Remzi Bircan, General Manager of Hajj and Umrah Services, stated in his announcement that they will send the first group of pilgrims to the holy lands in 170 days, and that as the Diyanet and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), they are continuing preparations for the 2024 Hajj in both Mecca and Medina.

Pointing out that those whose names were drawn in the Hajj lottery held on November 2 must complete their final registrations by November 24, Bircan announced that in place of those who do not complete their final registration, candidates on the reserve list in each province will be entitled to go according to their ranking.

Stating that approximately 2.5 million people in Turkey are waiting to perform the Hajj, Bircan provided the following information: "Mecca, Medina, and Arafat, which is essential for the Hajj, consist of a specific region. Saudi Arabia grants a quota at a rate of one per thousand of the country's population. Our current quota is 83,430. With the instructions of our esteemed President, we are in constant contact with the relevant country to increase our quota. We have sent official letters. They will provide an answer regarding the increase of the quota in the coming period."

"DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TRUST TOURS UNDER THE NAME OF PRIVATE OR LOTTERY-FREE HAJJ"

Expressing that there are promises of performing the Hajj on social media with rhetoric such as "lottery-free Hajj" and "tourist visa," Bircan continued his words as follows:

"It is not possible for any of our citizens to go to Mecca and perform the Hajj pilgrimage outside of the Hajj visa and the Hajj quota granted to Turkey. In previous years, many of our brothers and sisters went under the guise of commercial and tourist visas and unfortunately suffered grievances there. Some even returned without performing their Hajj. Therefore, our advice to our citizens is to complete their procedures if they are selected for Hajj through our provincial and district mufti offices or via e-Devlet; otherwise, they should absolutely not trust tours under the name of private or lottery-free Hajj. This is also the recommendation of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah."

Bircan underlined that the electronic visa granted by Saudi Arabia to Turkey is a tourist visa and not a Hajj visa, and noted the following:

"This visa is for visiting Riyadh, Mecca, and Medina. These visas have no significance during the days of Hajj. If they go there with this visa, they cannot enter Arafat or Mina. They have no way of boarding the buses going there. Our citizens need to know this specifically. Unfortunately, some people are exploiting the emotional environment and the longing for Hajj of our citizens, causing them to suffer. We advise no one whose name has not been selected by the Presidency of Religious Affairs to trust Hajj tours under the name of a private visa."

News Source: AA