Al-Qalam 
By Al Qalam Reporter
South African hujjaj have arrived in the Holy Land without any glitches but their brethren in Europe, North America, New Zealand, UK, and Australia have been thrown in disarray after the Saudi Government announced at the last minute to outsource Hajj visas and permits through an online portal called Motawif run by a Hindu company based in India
Fortunately, South Africa and other countries on the continent were not affected by the “Lottery” system.
For the affected countries, the new process – in which those selected would win their place through an “automated lottery” system and purchase their accommodation and flights directly with the Saudi government – signified a major overnight shift which essentially scrapped the decades-old system of using approved travel agencies. This has left thousands devastated.
In what further draws shade on the controversial change, however, it has now been revealed that the Motawif portal and its online application system has at least one investor with close ties to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has implemented anti-Muslim policies and plays a role in the persecution of Muslims throughout India.
According to ABC News of Australia, The new visa lottery system has thrown Australian Muslims’ Hajj plans into chaos. The rules changed overnight, forcing many to cancel their flights and hotel bookings.
But Saudi Arabia has defended its policy saying the lottery system is designed to crack down on Hajj-related scams
In Australia, for instance, thousands had been waiting since 2019 for the chance to go this year, ready to use their life savings to secure a spot.
The Saudi government’s decision has left many blindsided and reeling.
“It’s completely devastated the whole market, not just from the travel agents’ point of view, but for the pilgrims,” a Melbourne -based travel agent said.
“Not everybody is familiar with the internet. There are senior citizens who are unfamiliar with the processes online, who don’t even have credit cards.
“So it’s just a complete mess, to be totally frank with you.”
Meanwhile, according to a report by the London-based news outlet Middle East Eye, Prashant Prakash – the vice-president and partner at venture capital firm Accel India – was a key investor in the company which the Saudi government hired to set up the new Hajj application system.
Back home, the South African Muslim Travel Operators Association (SAMTOA) told Al Qalam there has been no problems.
Sedick Steenkamp, chairman of SAMTOA said in a statement that it has been a “difficult year for SAMTOA operators”, especially having being denied to be in the service of hujjaj as they usually do.
He said those hujjaj that were accredited to go on Hajj, has “departed thus far with no incidents. Those accredited hujjaj that had refunds due to them from Hajj 2020 had been sorted out by the relevant operators”.
