Muslim Board of Uzbekistan explains why they asked the Saudi Embassy not to issue Umrah visas to individuals

This was announced by the international relations department head of the MBU Muhammad Akmalkhon Shokirov at a press conference on February 11, Kun.uz correspondent reported. 

“Imagine your parents have been waiting for three years to perform Umrah. As their turn approaches, another person visits the embassy, expresses his desire to perform Umrah and departs for it. This is where the criterion of justice is broken. In order to avoid this violation of justice, the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been asked not to issue Umrah visas to individuals, who are not in the list provided by the MBU,” he said.

Why do diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia not issue tourist visas to citizens of Uzbekistan?

“Citizens of Uzbekistan are granted an Umrah visa, not a tourist visa. We are not in the list of countries, for whom tourist visas are issued.

Earlier, the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan appealed to the government of Saudi Arabia for the issuance of tourist visas.

Reportedly, citizens of Uzbekistan have been informed that numerous cases of offenses have been revealed, when people performed Umrah via various private agencies. We cannot disclose these facts.

The Saudi side said that they are not going to issue a tourist visa yet and they continue issuing Umrah visas only,” Muzaffar Komilov said. 

According to the current legislation, the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages can only be organized by the Committee on Religious Affairs and the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan.