15:41, 1 November 2008

Chechnya has sharply reduced its free-of-charge Hajj quota

This year, 3000 pilgrims from Chechnya will make their Hajj to Mecca. The number of free-of-charge places in the quota was cut by more than three times.

The list of the pilgrims for the Hajj to start on November 22 including about 3000 persons has been approved. The press service of the President and Government of the Chechen Republic reports that the chance to make the pilgrimage on privileged terms, that is free-of-charge, was granted to 500 believers. Last year they counted 1600. The free-of-charge vacancies were distributed among needy people.

Out of the total army of pilgrims, about 1000 persons will go to Mecca by land, the remaining ones - by air, the "Yuga.Ru" reports.

According to the rules of the Organization of Islamic Conference, out of each thousand of Moslems Saudi Arabia annually accepts one pilgrim. Chechnya has 1,050,000 Moslems; hence, its quota should make about 1100 persons. However, it was increased, because for many years citizens of Chechnya had no opportunities to make the Pilgrimage.