Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Saudi Arabian government defends its decision to reduce hajj quota for 20 percent for each countries during the ongoing construction for the extension of Haram Mosque in Mecca, Ambassador Ibrahim Mustofa Al Mubarak said here on Thursday.
"It is for the comfort of the hajj pilgrims. The construction is still ongoing. Before construction starts, the Majidil Haram received 48,000 pilgrims per hour. With the construction going on, currently we can only receive 20,000 hajj pilgrims per hour," said the ambassador during a press conference.
He explained once the extension of Masjidil Haram project is done, the holy place for muslim all over the world can receive up o 105,000 people per hour.
Apart from reducing global hajj quota, the Saudi Arabian government also imposes reduction of hajj pilgrims for local people and foreigners living in Saudi Arabia for 50 percent.
The ambassador said reduction of hajj quota is a precautios action taken by the Saudi Arabian government to avoid stampede during hajj process inside Masjidil Haram. "With the rising number of hajj pilgrims every year, we feel the need to expand Masjidil Haram area for the comfort of the pilgrims themselves," the ambassador added.
Earlier Religious Minister Suryadarma Ali said the Saudi government has cut Indonesia`s hajj pilgrimage quota this year by 20 percent or 42,200 pilgrims from 211,000 to 168,000 pilgrims. (*/DWA)
