Hajj begins amid political and economic tensions

Qatar accused Saudi Arabia of blocking its citizens from attending this year's hajj because of the ongoing diplomatic feud. The Saudi government has denied the charge, saying Qataris were still traveling to Mecca.

A quota system entitled about 1,200 Qataris to attend this year's ritual ceremony but Qatar said it had been impossible for its citizens to get permits. It blames the ongoing diplomatic dispute with its Gulf neighbors — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.

Qatar's National Human Rights Committee said Riyadh had shut down an electronic registration system used by travel agencies to obtain permits for Qatari pilgrims.

"There is no chance this year for Qatari citizens and residents to travel for hajj," the committee's Abdullah al-Kaabi said. "Registration of pilgrims from the State of Qatar remains closed, and residents of Qatar cannot be granted visas as there are no diplomatic missions."

Qataris reach Mecca

A Saudi official denied the allegation and put the blame on Qatar, saying they were the ones who had blocked access to the registration links.

A group of Qatari pilgrims had arrived in Mecca, according to an official at Saudi Arabia's hajj ministry, although he didn't say how many or if they traveled directly from Qatar. Last year more than 1,600 Qatari pilgrims attended the hajj, he said.

Three travel agencies in Doha said they stopped selling hajj packages which can cost as much as 120,000 riyals ($33,000 or €28,000)

"Last year we lost a lot of money as the crisis started after we had booked everything in Mecca and Medina and we had to pay people back," said one travel agency manager in Doha who didn't want to be named. he said that this year, nobody had really tried  "as people have understood there is no way to go there in these circumstances."

Egypt is hard-hit

Skyrocketing prices of fuel and electricity have hit Egyptians hard, forcing many to indefinitely delay travel plans to the annual hajj.

Mahmoud Aouni, a 47-year-old youth ministry employee, said he had always wanted to make the pilgrimage to Mecca but now wonders if he'll ever be able to afford it.

"They say charity begins at home," he said. "In the current economic climate, that's where it stays."

Read more: Qatar and Iran restore diplomatic ties

Last year 80,000 Egyptians journeyed to the hajj but officials say they are looking at a 20 percent drop-off this year, with only 64,000 expected to attend.

"No one can fork out enough for religious obligations," Aouni said. "How can I undertake the hajj when I can barely afford to run a household?"

"Before 2010, five or six of my neighbors would go each year," he added. "Now, it's one person from the neighborhood every three or four years."

Read more: Saudi Arabia opens border to Qatari pilgrims

bik/jm (Reuters, AFP)

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