Connect with us

The Friday Bulletin

Hajj 2023: Muslim leaders decry delay in issuance of passports

Published

on

NAIROBI—The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) has decried delay and unnecessary bureaucracy against Muslims by the Immigration department in issuance of passports.

In a statement the council expressed its frustrations and disappointments with regards to the issuance of passports to Muslims especially those intending to travel to Makka,Saudi Arabia this year to fulfill their religious obligation to perform Hajj (pilgrimage).

Speaking to the Friday Bulletin, Nairobi CIPK chapter secretary Sheikh Ibrahim Muhammad called on the Immigration department to expedite the issuance of passports, saying the delay in issuance of this important document will inconvenience Muslims who are in preparation for Hajj that is expected to begin on 26th June 2023.

The secretary further called for equality in service delivery noting that while the constitution is explicit that acquiring a Kenyan passport is a right for all citizens, for many Muslim applicants, it has become difficult to get their passports on time and a privilege.

”All Muslims have been classified as coming from border areas, and regardless of their background are subjected to an illegal and discriminatory policy of vetting before they are considered to be issued with the passports,” he said.

The CIPK official called on President William Ruto to intervene and end age-long discrimination in issuance of passports to members of the Muslim community especially those traveling for hajj this year for them to participate in the lifetime journey to fulfill their religious obligations.

”During the Iftar dinner hosted for Muslims by President William Ruto at State House, an assurance was given that the issuance of passports and national Identification Cards to Muslims will be streamlined but we are disappointed that the discriminatory policy continues with impunity,” Sheikh Ibrahim added.

Sheikh Ibrahim said while other Kenyans acquire passports and national Identification cards to Muslims this is being done as a privilege as they are treated as second class citizens, stressing that the delay issuance of passports to Muslims have been among the main challenges faced during preparations for hajj.

He called on the national government to ensure that the matter is addressed by setting up an institutionalized Hajj desks at the Immigration offices across the country to facilitate issuance of passports to intending pilgrims without further delay and discrimination.

”We need the government to speed up Issuance of passports to all Kenyans irrespective of religion, race, tribe and we are demanding that special institutionalized Hajj desks are set up at the Immigration offices across the country to facilitate Issuance of Passports to intending pilgrims without further delay and discrimination,” he said.

Sheikh Ibrahim said there are thousands of applications that were still pending at the Immigration, adding with the deadline for the issuance of Hajj visas by the Saudi Arabian embassy fast approaching, many of these applicants are at risk of missing out from fulfilling their religious obligation of Hajj.

 

Comments

Your comments here:

error

Share it with your friends