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ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH HUJJAJ (PILGRIMS) U.K.
Since the A.B.H was set up in 1998, we have had many achievements. The A.B.H approached the Foreign Office, and the first meeting between the A.B.H and Foreign Office Minister Baroness Simons was held on 15th July 1999, in the House of Lords. The meeting was a great success; and the Minister agreed to facilitate Hajj arrangements to provide healthcare, welfare and support services, such as bereavement, lost pilgrims, loss of luggage, passport, flight tickets and money etc. for British Hujjaj at Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
After a series of meetings at the Foreign Office, history was made. The first ever British Hujjaj delegation, headed by Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, went to Saudi Arabia to help British Pilgrims at Makkah during the Hajj period in 2000. This delegation set up a camp in Makkah during Hajj 2000 to provide full range of free medical, safety and consular facilities to the British Hajj pilgrims. This delegation has dedicated services to the British Hajj pilgrims on annual basis each year since 2000.
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Lord Mayer of Birmingham launching meningitis awareness campaign |
The Association of British Hujjaj thankfully wish to place on record, a special letter message in appreciation of the services rendered to the Muslim community, from the Prime Minister, Tony Blair on the eve of the annual Hajj Umrah conference 2000-2001!
Ever since its foundation in 1998, the A.B.H has been working hard to create and update information regarding health and safety matters amongst the community, especially amongst those from relatively lesser educational background. Senior doctors provide regular update on all health related issues, including meningitis through seminars, radio TV talks organised by the A.B.H. on multilingual basis through an extensive press coverage. Printed literature to this effect is also regularly distributed amongst community, especially to the intending pilgrims.
The press has quoted 'These seminars seem to have gone down well with the pilgrims and the Hajj tour operators. There was a crying need for such type of seminars and the ABH is indeed doing a great job' |
However, in spite of the best possible precautions, over 20 British pilgrims lost their lives in the recent years in the United Kingdom. Feeling the pain of this tragedy, we approached Mr. Alan Milburn, Secretary of Health expressing our deepest sorrow and extreme distress.
In response to urgent appeal by the A.B.H. to the then Health Secretary, Mr. Alan Milburn, a meeting was held between A.B.H. and the Department of Health on 27 July 2001 and an action plan was discussed and implemented by the A.B.H. by immediate launch of the meningitis awareness campaign, again through high profile press publicity campaign, seminars, radio and TV talks, multilingual printed literature distribution. Particular emphasis was focused on the need of the new meningitis vaccine made available by the Health Department. This campaign generated much interest and nationwide support by the print and electronic media. Special programmes were telecasted by 2 Islamic TV channels in the U.K. in which senior doctors from the A.B.H gave talks about meningitis and all other health related issues. These programmes were live and viewers from all over the U.K. as well as the other countries phoned in to seek expert advice. These programmes have been very well received by the viewers and are repeated at least twice a year by the A.B.H.
The press has quoted 'These seminars seem to have gone down well with the pilgrims and the Hajj tour operators. There was a crying need for such type of seminars and the ABH is indeed doing a great job'
All the Muslims TV channels and Press carried out our campaign's message and information and specifically there was good coverage to Awareness Week Launch at House of Lords, seminars in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and Glasgow. |
To make Meningitis Awareness Campaign a success, several events have been organised during the last two years, including the extremely successful re-launch of the meningitis campaign at the occasion of our annual conference in Birmingham, before the Hajj in January 2002. Lord Hunt, the Health Minister, was the Chief Guest at the event which was very well attended by the community. The conference was also attended by the Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, as well as representatives from the City Council and Local Health Authority. Senior doctors also addressed the audience, which proved to be the most beneficial and informative. These activities were closely followed by the print and electronic media.
We were overwhelmed by the success of our campaign and the appreciative and encouraging response from the community. Our joint efforts, along with the Department of Health, have proven a great success, and since then, there is no loss of life in this country due to meningitis outbreaks amongst the British pilgrims.
The Association of British Hujjaj (pilgrims) U.K. has taken another remarkable initiative to launch first ever National Hajj Umrah (Health and Safety) Awareness Week in December 2004. It was launched by Lord Ahmed of Rotherham. (patron of A.B.H.) at House of Lords, London.
This prestigious event was attended by diplomats, community leaders, TV and media journalists including Lord Hunt, former Minister of Health, Ambassador Ferej Alowedi, Deputy Head of Mission, Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Pengiran Haji Yunus, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam, Haji Salim Moosa, Grand Mufti of Albania, and representatives from the Syrian and Egyptian embassies.
While describing meningitis as one of the most notorious killer diseases the executive committee member of A.B.H and a senior GP, Dr. Syed Raza Hussain opened the meningitis awareness campaign simultaneously and urged the Hujjaj to make sure they get a special ACWY vaccine available from their doctor before leaving for Hajj.
During this week, A.B.H. organised free seminars and educational training programmes throughout the U.K. i.e. London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and Glasgow. Association of British Hujjaj also appealed to the British Muslim community organisations to help prospective Hajj & Umrah pilgrims by organising similar educational training programmes in their area.
All the Muslims TV channels and Press carried out our campaign's message and information and specifically there was good coverage to Awareness Week Launch at House of Lords, seminars in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and Glasgow. We were over whelmed by the response and we received a large number of enquiries from throughout the UK which showed that our message is being well received in the community and it made our campaign a real success. It is very encouraging and we are confident that we will achieve our objective through our hard work.
The executive committee of the Association of British Hujjaj is comprised of devoted, dedicated and hard-working professionals who are very much committed to this noble cause to provide services to humanity on voluntary basis. The association will continue to make every effort to fulfil its desired objectives in the coming years.
We have established our branches in several key cities such as Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, London, and Glasgow through which we propose to extend and expand our services throughout Britain.
Finally, the Association of British Hujjaj would like to express its gratitude to its patron, Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, all Members of Parliament, government departments, community organisation and particularly the Department of Health for their help and support to enable us to protect the British pilgrims suffering from difficulties, hardships and loss of innocent human lives through meningitis outbreaks.
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Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK
Every year over 25,000 British pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and over 100,000 travel to perform Umrah (Lesser Hajj). Unfortunately there
is accumulated evidence that
British Hujjaj experience significant
difficulties and problems due
to ignorance, lack of awareness of
pre-travel Health & Safety precautions
and understanding of the
needs of good preparation of the
journey to perform Hajj & Umrah
in safe and best possible manner.
The tragic accidents that took place
during Hajj in recent years, where a
substantial number of Hajj pilgrims
lost their lives including over 12
British Hajj pilgrims due to stampede
and road accident and over 20
tragic deaths due to meningitis outbreak
amongst returnee British Hajj
pilgrims caused a great amount of
grief and distress to the community
in UK. They were all shocked and
extremely saddened by these heartbreaking
human disasters.
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Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, Rushanara Ali MP (London),
Detective Inspector Desmond McHugh (Met Police),
Chrs Roe (Chief Trading Standards Officer)
and members of the Executive Committee of ABH
at the Hajj Awareness Week Launch event at the House of lords. |
Feeling the pain of these
tragedies and realising the importance
of proper preparation for
Hajj, there was a desperate need to
make appropriate arrangements to
promote Health & Safety awareness
to prevent any future loss of
human life amongst British Hajj
pilgrims. The Association of
British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK
(A.B.H) the only Hajj specific
organisation and a National charity
was formed in 1998 by professionals,
senior doctors, religious scholars,
and people from all walks of
life to research and develop a positive
plan to address these issues.
Some of the objectives of this
organisation are:
To organise high profile publicity
campaigns involving regional
and national media to promote
awareness.
To organise seminars, conferences and other educational training
programmes.
To influence and work with the
concerned authorities to co-ordinate
their efforts for the welfare of
the British pilgrims.
To explore the effective and
practical ways to minimise hardship
and problems witnessed by the
effected Hujjaj.
To produce and distribute
leaflets, booklets, posters and
audio-visual materials, consisting
of appropriate information on
Health & Safety related issues.
Ever since its foundation in
1998, A.B.H has made many
achievements including setting up a
British Hajj delegation by the
Foreign Office to provide healthcare,
welfare and support services,
such as bereavement, lost pilgrims,
loss of luggage, passport, flight
tickets and money etc. for British
Hujjaj in Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
The first ever British Hajj delegation,
headed by Lord Ahmed of
Rotherham, went to Saudi Arabia
to help British pilgrims in Makkah
during the Hajj period in 2000. This
delegation has dedicated services to
the British Hajj pilgrims on annual
basis each year since 2000.
A.B.H has been working hard
by running extremely successful
high profile publicity campaigns to
update and provide information
regarding health and safety matters
to the community, especially
amongst those from relatively lesser
educational background. Senior
doctors provide regular updates on
health related issues, including meningitis through multi-lingual
seminars, radio and TV talks organised
by the A.B.H through extensive
press coverage. Printed literature
to this effect is also regularly
distributed amongst the community,
especially to the intended pilgrims.
A.B.H thankfully wish to place
on record, a special letter message
in appreciation of the services rendered
to the Muslim community,
from the Prime Minister on the eve
of the annual Hajj Umrah conference
2000-2001!
The press has quoted "These
seminars seem to have gone down
well with the pilgrims and the Hajj
tour operators. There was a crying
need for such type of seminars and
the ABH is indeed doing a great
job".
All the Muslims TV channels
and Press carried out our campaign's
message and information
and specifically there was good
coverage to Awareness Week
Launch at House of Lords, seminars
in London, Birmingham,
Manchester, Bradford and
Glasgow.
We were overwhelmed by the
success of our campaign and the
appreciative and encouraging
response from the community. Our
joint efforts, along with the
Department of Health, have proven
a great success, and since then,
there is no loss of life in this country
due to meningitis outbreaks
amongst the British pilgrims.
A.B.H took a remarkable initiative
to launch first ever National
Hajj Umrah (Health & Safety)
Awareness Week in December
2004. It was launched by Lord
Ahmed of Rotherham (Patron of
A.B.H) at the House of Lords. This
prestigious event was attended by
diplomats, community leaders, TV
and media journalists including
Lord Phil Hunt, Minister of Health;
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia,
Ambassador and High
Commissioner of Brunei
Darussalam, Grand Mufti of
Albania and representatives from
the Syrian and Egyptian embassies.
Since then, this National Hajj & Umrah awareness week is being
held across the UK once every
year.
The Executive Committee of
A.B.H is comprised of devoted,
dedicated and hard-working professionals
who are very much committed
to this noble cause to provide
services to humanity on voluntary
basis. The association will continue
to make every effort to fulfil
its desired objectives in the coming
years.
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Message from the Prime Minister
Tony Blair
10 DOWNING STREET
LONDON SWlA 2AA
THE PRIME MINISTER
The Government is pleased to support the Muslim Community to ensure maximum safety for those Muslims traveling to Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj. I am sure that the Hajj Conference your Association has organised in Birmingham on 6 February will also be of great value to British pilgrims.
I know how very important the Hajj is for the Muslim community and I am very glad to have this opportunity to send to all concerned my best wishes for a successful and enjoyable event.
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Message from John Reid MP (Former) Secretary of
State for Health
| From the Secretary of State for Health |
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"I am pleased to support the launch of the Association's website. I know how very important the Hajj is for the Muslim community and this important information will help British pilgrims in planning their journey.
Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia are serious, but thankfully rare, conditions. The Chief Medical Officer recently reminded the public of the seriousness of meningitis and septicaemia, and the signs and symptoms to look out for.
This can be found at: www.immunisation.nhs.uk/newsitem.php?id=43
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Message from Lord Nazir Ahmed
Lord Ahmed of Rotherham
House of Lords
Westminster
London SW1 0PW
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Association of British Huiiaj U.K. Website
The Association of British Hujjaj UK. has embarked on a fantastic Hajj awareness programme over the last few years. They have provided necessary advice and assistance to hundreds of British Muslims and have given excellent ideas and proposals both to the British Government and the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
I wish a pleasant journey and a safe return to all Muslims who access this site and travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj or Umra ceremonies.
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Message from President of Egypt
Mr. Mohamed Hosny Mubarak
It was with sincerest thanks that I received your message of condolences on the victims of the ill-fated Egyptian ferry that sank in the Red Sea.
I pray God Almighty to keep and preserve you all.
With my best wishes.
Mohamed Hosny Mubarak
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Letter from Saudi Ambassador
In reference to your letter on 16 January concerning the Meningitis vaccination requirements for all Haj Pilgrims, many thanks for your concern and for raising awareness among British pilgrims over this important issue.
The Saudi Arabian Government takes the safety of pilgrims very seriously and for this reason it is a requirement that before pilgrims can perform Haj their tour operators must present valid vaccination certificates for each pilgrim to the consulate at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia before any visas are issued.
Additionally, Saudi Arabian Airlines operates a strict policy at UK airports where it checks both the passport and vaccination certificate of each pilgrim before they are allowed to board. A further check is also undertaken at the Haj terminal at King Abdul Aziz Airport as each pilgrim arrives. Anyone found not to have a certificate is then automatically vaccinated by staff from the Ministry of Health. This procedure operates to ensure that the Haj pilgrimage can operate with the greatest level of safety for all those concerned.
I wish you continued success in your work and again thank you for your concern.
With best regards,
Mohammed bin Nawaf Al-Saud
Ambassador
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Letter from Minister of (BERR) Department
Khalid Pervez
General Secretary
Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK
Southside Centre
249 Ladypool Road
Birmingham B12 8LF
10 November 2008
On behalf of both the Government and my Department may I extend our best
wishes to the Association of British Hujjaj UK and the Waltham Forest Islamic
Association for a successful event today.
The Association of British Hujjaj is to be commended for their continuing hard
work and commitment towards the health and welfare of the thousands of British
Muslims who go on Hajj and Umrah each year. I would urge you all to listen
carefully to the important information you are going to hear today which is
designed to help you have as safe and enjoyable Hajj as possible.
Finally, I hope that we can continue to work together in order to ensure that the experience of Hajj is a safe and peaceful one for all British Muslim pilgrims.
GARETH THOMAS
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24 May 2010
Mr. Khalid Pervez
General Secretary
Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK
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Thank you for your very kind letter of 13 May offering your congratulations on my appointment as Foreign Secretary.
The Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK plays a valuable role in helping to inform and advise British Pilgrims. We share your concerns that those who travel to perform Hajj and Umrah should do so safely and I hope that the FCO and your association can continue to work together closely to try to ensure this in the future.
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Edward Davey MP
Minister for Employment Relations
Consumer & POstal Affairs
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Mr Khalid Pervez
Association of British Hujjaj (Prilgrims) UK
Southside Centre
249 Ladypool Road
Brimingham
B12 8LF |
16 October 2010 |
Thank you for your letters of 24 and 31 August, about the activities of certain disreputable Hajj and Umrah travel operators and inviting me to the launch of
the National Hajj and Umrah (Health and Safety) Awareness Week at the
House of Lords on 6 October. Thank you also for your kind words on my
appointment as Minister with responsibility for consumer affairs.
I was interested to learn about the issues surrounding disreputable Hajj and
Umrah travel operators and also about the dedicated work of your
organisation in providing valuable advice and support to UK pilgrims.
Your letter of 24 August talks about the continuance of unacceptable
behaviour from some of these travel operators. I appreciate that pilgrims are
continuing to be affected by these outfits but since the Department became
fully aware of this issue there has been signs of progress. For example, there
has been an increase in complaints to Trading Standards Departments
indicating improved pilgrim awareness as to the fact they have rights, a
significant increase in the number of Hajj tour operators who now hold an Air
Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) and a willingness of the legitimate side of
the industry to engage on this issue.
My Department is working with the industry on developing standard clauses
for contracts and with the longer term aim of establishing core industry
standards. I understand that a standard draft contract is now near completion.
We will continue to encourage self regulation within this sector of the travel
industry in order to establish good practice and to provide pilgrims with
indicators as to which organisers are committed to providing a good service.
On the issue of raising pilgrim awareness, we are currently in discussions with
Tower Hamlets Trading Standards and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau
(NFIB) about contributing to a proposed information pack designed to help
pilgrims avoid substandard operators.
The Association of British HuJjaJ (Pilgrims) UK is to be commended for its
continuing hard work and commitment towards the health and welfare of
thousands of British Muslims who go on Hajj and Umrah each year.
EDWARD DAVEY
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‘I wanted to extend my support and endorse the work that the Association of British Hujjaj UK does in helping prepare pilgrims for Hajj. This event provides an excellent opportunity to inform British pilgrims of the health and safety issues and precautionary measures to take, ensuring that what will be the journey of a lifetime is a safe and fulfilling one. It is expected that approximately 20,000 British pilgrims will perform Hajj this year; in recognition of this the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will have a Consular Delegation on the ground in Makkah. The delegation will be on hand to provide consular assistance to any British pilgrim who requires help. I wish all those undertaking Hajj this year a peaceful, successful and rewarding pilgrimage.’
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