India Allows Muslim Women to Visit Haj Without Male Companion

India’s Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the Government’s decision to lift the ban on Muslim women going for Haj without “Mehram” (male companion) has generated very positive results, as Muslim women, from across the country, are applying in large numbers to go for Haj without “Mehram”.

Launching a portal for private tour operators (PTOs) in Delhi today, Naqvi said that the decision of the Government, led by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to allow Muslim women for Haj without “Mehram” has been welcomed across the country.

“This is another important step towards women empowerment by the Government led by Modi,” the Minister said.

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He said that application process for Haj 2018 had started on November 15 and more than 1000 women have applied to perform Haj without “Mehram” till now (December 13). The last date for Haj application has been extended up to December 22.

According to the new Haj policy, women above 45 years of age, who wish to go for Haj, but do not have a male companion, are allowed to travel for Haj in groups of 4 or more women.

The Minister pointed out that the portal for PTOs has been launched for the first time by Ministry of Minority Affairs to ensure that the entire process related to Haj becomes fully transparent.

The Minister pointed out that more than 263,000 people have applied for Haj, as of now, out of which about 138,000 applications have been made online. Besides, people are also applying for Haj through a mobile app.

The Saudi Arabia Government had increased India’s Haj quota to 170,025 in the year 2017.

Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau