Press Release:MURIC BROKERS PEACE BETWEEN BINSHEIKH & PILGRIMS 9th March 2008
The Muslim Rights Concern (M URIC) on Saturday 8th March 2008 began active reconciliation efforts between BinSheikh Air Services and pilgrims who were stranded in Cotonou during the last hajj exercise.
It will be recalled that MURIC in conjunction with the pilgrims had held a press conference on Thursday 28th February 2003 in which it alleged that the company was yet to refund huge sums of money collected from the pilgrims. Peace efforts were set in motion following a meeting at MURIC headquarters in Iba Estate, Lagos, between representatives of the pilgrims, members of MURIC executive and the chairman of BinSheikh Air Services, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Arowolo.
Although the pilgrims expressed anger and disappointment at the manner they were treated by the travel agency at Cotonou and they initially insisted on collecting a refund of their money by the end of March, BinSheikh pleaded with them to allow the company to make a refund at the end of June. With MURIC acting as facilitator, a deal was finally struck for BinSheikh to refund the pilgrims’ money by the end of June 2008. The meeting which began around 4 pm on Saturday 8th March 2008 under a tense atmosphere, ended amicably around 7. 50 pm.
We hereby appeal to all concerned pilgrims to be patient and to honour the terms of the agreement in the interest of peace, harmony and Muslim brotherhood. We affirm our determination to protect the Allah-given and fundamental rights of the affected pilgrims but reminds all that respecting contractual agreements is a cardinal principle of Islam.
MURIC recognises the limitations of BinSheikh Air Services particularly in the face of professional hazards and business downturns. While we urge the company to ensure refund of the pilgrims’ money by the end of June, we appeal to the affected pilgrims to remain calm and law abiding.
Dr. Is-haq Akintola Abdul Yakeen Williams DIRECTOR PRO |
