Press Release: Hajj Hiccups: MURIC Calls For Information  13th December 2007

The on-going hajj exercise appears laden with problems. There are reports of delayed airlifts. Many pilgrims are yet to know the day they will be airlifted. Hundreds are stranded at the pilgrims camps. Many are already running out of cash. Official traveling bags and other items which should have been supplied long before this period and for which the pilgrims duly paid arrived late. There are many other obstacles facing the exercise.

In view of the trauma being faced by prospective pilgrims, MURIC is warming up for a tough reception for state and federal pilgrims boards which fail to perform, those who traumatize the pilgrims or those involved in corrupt practices. There have been allegations in past hajj operations that Pilgrims Board officials fail to return money collected from pilgrims in Nigeria. They are neither given in Saudi Arabia nor even on their return to the country. This is a shameful way of milking pilgrims. It is also an infringement on the pilgrims’ Allah-given and fundamental rights.

Islam forbids corruption, exploitation and oppression. Qur’an 2:188 forbids Muslims from illegal and immoral consumption of other people’s money. Qur’an 4:10 affirms that those who corruptly convert the people’s money to their personal use are simply consuming fire in their bellies. Furthermore, Islam has zero tolerance for oppression. Qur’an 2:279 forbids oppression. Qur’an 7:44 and 11:18 invoke the curse of Allah on oppressors (la’natullahi ala dhalimin).

To this end, MURIC is encouraging pilgrims and their families to come forward with useful information on any pilgrims board official found wanting in the line of duty. We call on Nigerian Muslims to fight corruption and oppression in all their ramifications to a stand still. The current war on corruption will be meaningless if Muslims who form the majority in this country fail to participate fully and actively. We charge Islamic scholars throughout the country not to sit on the fence in the current face-off between the forces of transparency and light and the agents of concealment and darkness.

Where possible, both culprits and victims should be identified by name and designation. Oral and written reports and memoranda should be submitted to MURIC offices throughout the federation, sent by post, by telephone or by e-mail. Below are the postal address, telephone numbers and e-mail address of MURIC headquarters in Lagos:

Teledawah Plaza, Zone ‘E’, GRA, Iba Estate, P.O. Box 10211, HO 102 101, LASU Post Office, Ojo, Lagos State. Tel. 01-4703866, 01-4706101, 01-4755489, 08033464974, 08054228421

Dr. Is-haq Akintola
DIRECTOR