China on Tuesday announced&nbsp;new rules for Muslims embarking upon the annual Haj pilgrimmage to&nbsp;Saudi Arabia.

Stipulating that the pilgrimage should be organised only by the country's Islamic Association, Bejing has ordered Chinese Muslims not to&nbsp;oppose the regulations.

China has a Muslim population of around&nbsp;20 million which includes&nbsp;Uyghur Turks who hails from East Turkestan and&nbsp;Hui Muslims, who are of Chinese ethnic origin.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-formally-admits-death-of-uyghur-man-held-in-xinjiang-camp-332505">China formally admits death of Uyghur man held in Xinjiang camp</a>

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This year, about 11,500 Chinese Muslims are expected&nbsp;to head to Saudi Arabia for Hajj,&nbsp;a slow decline from 14,500 in 2016 and 12,800 last year.

The new regulation issued for Haj pilgrimage has a total of 42 articles, including one that stipulates that Chinese Muslims' pilgrimage should be organised in accordance with laws, and the Chinese Islamic Association is the only organisation that is authorised to arrange for Chinese Muslims to go to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform Haj.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/silence-pak-turkey-chinese-repression-uyghur-muslims-outrageous-us-lawmakers-168352">Silence of Pak, Turkey on Chinese repression of Uyghur Muslims outrageous: US lawmakers</a>

No other organisation or individual should organise the trips, and Chinese citizens should meet basic requirements when applying for the Haj, the regulation, which would be implemented from December 1, stipulates, state-run Global Times reported.

People who go overseas to perform Haj should abide by China's and the destination country's laws and regulations, and oppose religious extremism, according to the regulations.

The related government departments are requested to fulfil their responsibilities and ban illegal Haj activities, the report said.

The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.

China since last year faced severe international criticism, including from the UN and western countries, over allegations that it is holding over a million people, mostly ethnic Uyghurs, in internment camps in Muslim-majority Xinjiang province in a bid to wean them away from religious extremism.

Resource-rich Xinjiang province is home to over 10 million Turkic speaking Uighur Muslims. The province is restive for several years over settlements of Han Chinese in the region.

China defends the camps, describing the facilities as re-education centres aimed at de-radicalising sections of the Uyghur Muslim population from extremism and separatism.

China on Tuesday announced new rules for Muslims embarking upon the annual Haj pilgrimmage to Saudi Arabia. Stipulating that the pilgrimage should be organised only by the country's Islamic Association, Bejing has ordered Chinese Muslims not to oppose the regulations.

China on Tuesday announced new rules for Muslims embarking upon the annual Haj pilgrimmage to Saudi Arabia. Stipulating that the pilgrimage should be organised only by the country's Islamic Association, Bejing has ordered Chinese Muslims not to oppose the regulations. China has a Muslim population of around 20 million which includes Uyghur Turks who hails from East Turkestan and Hui Muslims, who are of Chinese ethnic origin. Also read: China formally admits death of Uyghur man held in Xinjiang camp This year, about 11,500 Chinese Muslims are expected to head to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, a slow decline from 14,500 in 2016 and 12,800 last year. The new regulation issued for Haj pilgrimage has a total of 42 articles, including one that stipulates that Chinese Muslims' pilgrimage should be organised in accordance with laws, and the Chinese Islamic Association is the only organisation that is authorised to arrange for Chinese Muslims to go to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform Haj. Also read: Silence of Pak, Turkey on Chinese repression of Uyghur Muslims outrageous: US lawmakers No other organisation or individual should organise the trips, and Chinese citizens should meet basic requirements when applying for the Haj, the regulation, which would be implemented from December 1, stipulates, state-run Global Times reported. People who go overseas to perform Haj should abide by China's and the destination country's laws and regulations, and oppose religious extremism, according to the regulations. The related government departments are requested to fulfil their responsibilities and ban illegal Haj activities, the report said. The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so. China since last year faced severe international criticism, including from the UN and western countries, over allegations that it is holding over a million people, mostly ethnic Uyghurs, in internment camps in Muslim-majority Xinjiang province in a bid to wean them away from religious extremism. Resource-rich Xinjiang province is home to over 10 million Turkic speaking Uighur Muslims. The province is restive for several years over settlements of Han Chinese in the region. China defends the camps, describing the facilities as re-education centres aimed at de-radicalising sections of the Uyghur Muslim population from extremism and separatism.

China announces new regulations for Muslims visiting Saudi Arabia for Haj

The Indian government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested to not send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic.

Naqvi &nbsp;told reporters that 2,13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020 and the process to refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction has been started immediately.

The money will be refunded through online Direct Benefit Transfer mode into bank accounts of applicants.

This will be the first time since Independence that pilgrims from India will not be going for Haj due to the unprecedented situation posed by the pandemic.

More than 2,300 women had applied to perform Haj without mehram (male companion) this year and now, they will be allowed to go for Haj in 2021 on the basis of their application this year. Besides them, more women, who apply to go for Haj without Mehram next year, will also be facilitated, he said.

A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Narendra Modi government ensured that Muslim women can perform Haj without mehram in 2018, Naqvi said.

In a statement, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Haj and Umrah said that due to coronavirus pandemic and the risks of it spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year will be held whereby a "very limited number" of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-coronavirus-pandemic-saudi-arabia-to-hold-very-limited-hajj-this-year-307851">Also read | Amid coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia to hold 'very limited' hajj this year</a>

"This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols," the statement said.

Haj 2020 is proposed in the period between late July and early August.

The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.

The Indian government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Indian government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested to not send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic. Naqvi told reporters that 2,13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020 and the process to refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction has been started immediately. The money will be refunded through online Direct Benefit Transfer mode into bank accounts of applicants. This will be the first time since Independence that pilgrims from India will not be going for Haj due to the unprecedented situation posed by the pandemic. More than 2,300 women had applied to perform Haj without mehram (male companion) this year and now, they will be allowed to go for Haj in 2021 on the basis of their application this year. Besides them, more women, who apply to go for Haj without Mehram next year, will also be facilitated, he said. A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Narendra Modi government ensured that Muslim women can perform Haj without mehram in 2018, Naqvi said. In a statement, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Haj and Umrah said that due to coronavirus pandemic and the risks of it spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year will be held whereby a "very limited number" of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it. Also read | Amid coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia to hold 'very limited' hajj this year "This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols," the statement said. Haj 2020 is proposed in the period between late July and early August. The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.

Indian pilgrims will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020

India has become the first country in the world which has made the entire Haj 2020 process 100 per cent digital, said Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday.

His comments came after the minister signed the bilateral agreement for the pilgrimage with the Saudi Haj Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten in Jeddah.

Naqvi said, "An online application, e-visa, Haj mobile app, 'e-MASIHA'&nbsp;health facility, "e-luggage pre-tagging" providing all information in India itself regarding accommodation and transportation in Mecca and Madina will be provided to 2 lakh Indian Muslims going for Haj in 2020."

Adding that that for the first time facilities have been provided for digital pre-tagging of the baggage of pilgrims, the minister said, "This will ensure the Indian pilgrims will get information in India itself about building along with the room allotted to the pilgrims and transportation like details of the bus to be taken by the pilgrims after reaching to the airport in Saudi Arabia."

Naqvi said that this year, a 100 line information centre has been established at Haj House, Mumbai for providing information regarding the entire Haj process.

The minister further said that while on one hand health card is being provided to Indian Haj pilgrims in the country, on the other hand, "E-MASIHA" (E-Medical Assistance System for Indian Pilgrims Abroad), an online system to create and maintain the complete health database of Indian pilgrims along with doctors'&nbsp;prescriptions, medical treatment as well as medicine disbursals, has been developed to deal any emergency in Mecca-Madina.

"Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) have also been connected with 100 per cent digital system which has ensured transparency in their functioning and it has also ensured better facilities to Indian Haj pilgrims. For the first time, a portal of HGOs (Portal for Haj Group Organisers) has been developed which contains all the details of HGOs, their packages etc," he added.

Adding that the Ministry of Minority Affairs has taken effective and successful steps during last about 4 years to make Haj and other programmes completely digital/online as a part of Digital India Campaign of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the minister said, "Making the entire Haj 2020 process 100 per cent digital has helped in providing better facilities to people going for Haj and ensured transparency by eliminating middlemen."

In 2020, a total of 2 lakh Indian Muslims will perform Haj that too without any subsidy, he added.

"Online Haj applications received till November 30 include about 15,000 online Haj applications from Jammu and Kashmir. The last date of submission of Haj application is December 5," he said.

He added that India-Saudi Arabia relations have achieved newer heights under the leadership and guidance of Saudi Arabia King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

India has become the first country in the world which has made the entire Haj 2020 process 100 per cent digital, said Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday.

India has become the first country in the world which has made the entire Haj 2020 process 100 per cent digital, said Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday. His comments came after the minister signed the bilateral agreement for the pilgrimage with the Saudi Haj Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten in Jeddah. Naqvi said, "An online application, e-visa, Haj mobile app, 'e-MASIHA' health facility, "e-luggage pre-tagging" providing all information in India itself regarding accommodation and transportation in Mecca and Madina will be provided to 2 lakh Indian Muslims going for Haj in 2020." Adding that that for the first time facilities have been provided for digital pre-tagging of the baggage of pilgrims, the minister said, "This will ensure the Indian pilgrims will get information in India itself about building along with the room allotted to the pilgrims and transportation like details of the bus to be taken by the pilgrims after reaching to the airport in Saudi Arabia." Naqvi said that this year, a 100 line information centre has been established at Haj House, Mumbai for providing information regarding the entire Haj process. The minister further said that while on one hand health card is being provided to Indian Haj pilgrims in the country, on the other hand, "E-MASIHA" (E-Medical Assistance System for Indian Pilgrims Abroad), an online system to create and maintain the complete health database of Indian pilgrims along with doctors' prescriptions, medical treatment as well as medicine disbursals, has been developed to deal any emergency in Mecca-Madina. "Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) have also been connected with 100 per cent digital system which has ensured transparency in their functioning and it has also ensured better facilities to Indian Haj pilgrims. For the first time, a portal of HGOs (Portal for Haj Group Organisers) has been developed which contains all the details of HGOs, their packages etc," he added. Adding that the Ministry of Minority Affairs has taken effective and successful steps during last about 4 years to make Haj and other programmes completely digital/online as a part of Digital India Campaign of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the minister said, "Making the entire Haj 2020 process 100 per cent digital has helped in providing better facilities to people going for Haj and ensured transparency by eliminating middlemen." In 2020, a total of 2 lakh Indian Muslims will perform Haj that too without any subsidy, he added. "Online Haj applications received till November 30 include about 15,000 online Haj applications from Jammu and Kashmir. The last date of submission of Haj application is December 5," he said. He added that India-Saudi Arabia relations have achieved newer heights under the leadership and guidance of Saudi Arabia King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.

India becomes first country to make entire Haj 2020 process digital: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

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China announces new regulations for Muslims visiting Saudi Arabia for Haj

Indian pilgrims will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020

India becomes first country to make entire Haj 2020 process digital: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi