Hajj 2025: Trust Shaken by Irregularities in Visa Allocation
Title: Hajj 2025: Trust Shaken by Irregularities in Visa Allocation
Content: Five suspicious cases, forged signatures, and circumvented procedures: the report from the inquiry committee on the visa allocation for Hajj 2025 highlights serious failings within the Islamic Cultural Centre Trust Fund (ICCTF). The Cabinet has already forwarded the file to the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for investigation.
The report from the inquiry committee on the visa allocation for Hajj 2025 was made public on Friday, October 3. Established on May 14 by the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, the inquiry committee was tasked with shedding light on grave allegations of irregularities involving five individuals linked to the ICCTF.
After reviewing the ICCTF files, the committee uncovered serious administrative anomalies, document forgery, and failures in control procedures. Investigators looked into five suspicious cases involving pilgrims who obtained visas in a manner deemed irregular and unfair.
The investigation revealed that the five individuals in question were not officially registered for Hajj 2025. However, fictitious registration numbers were assigned to them based on the records of pilgrims who had already completed the Hajj. Even more troubling, the signatures on the confirmation forms did not match those of the pilgrims or appear on their passports. The committee noted a strong resemblance between these signatures and that of an ICCTF officer, Mr. Boodhoo, responsible for handing out the forms. He denied any involvement, but investigators recommend appointing a handwriting expert to determine possible forgery.
Manipulated Documents
The confirmation cards, known as Purple Cards, also drew the committee's attention. Some were printed on the same sheet and not separated, contrary to standard procedure. Investigators also uncovered anomalies in the "Tannazul" payment system—a mechanism for visa transfer among pilgrims. No payments were traced to the official ICCTF account at the State Bank of Mauritius. Furthermore, the "Tannazul swapping" letters were dated after the issuance of the visas, which goes against established practices. In one instance, no trace of payment was found despite the issuance of a visa.
Lack of Transparency
The inquiry committee lamented a lack of cooperation from the ICCTF. Despite several official requests, the institution did not provide some essential documents, including the "special requests" from two pilgrims. This behavior, the report emphasizes, raises questions about transparency and internal governance at the center, which manages a highly sensitive aspect of the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Another point raised by the committee: the five involved pilgrims were all registered under the same travel operator, Kaafila Travel & Tours Co Ltd. This observation strengthens suspicions of an organized network or, at the very least, administrative complicity in issuing irregular visas.
During its meeting on Friday, October 3, the Cabinet acknowledged the report and announced several measures. The document was forwarded to the Police Commissioner, as well as to the DPP for examination of alleged criminal offenses. It was also referred to the board of the ICCTF for appropriate disciplinary actions against the officials involved in these fraudulent practices. The government claims it seeks to ensure transparency, fairness, and integrity in managing the upcoming pilgrimage.
Potential Prosecutions
The inquiry committee's report suggests the possibility of criminal and disciplinary actions against certain ICCTF officials. It highlights a weakened system where a lack of internal control and concentration of responsibilities allowed serious manipulations in a process intended to be just and sacred.
The committee's findings now call for a comprehensive reform of the visa allocation mechanism for Hajj to prevent any recurrence of such deviations, particularly with the implementation of a more secure IT management system.
Shakeel Mohamed: "The ICC Board has decided to seek the advice of its legal counsel to determine the procedure to follow".
In a statement to Radio Plus on Monday, October 6, Minister Shakeel Mohamed confirmed that an emergency meeting of the Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC) board was held on Saturday, October 4. This meeting followed the publication of the inquiry report on the visa allocation for Hajj 2025.
"I am aware that ICC board members held an emergency meeting on Saturday, October 4. I have reviewed the minutes of that meeting. During this meeting, the board decided to seek the advice of Mr. Shaukat Oozeer, ICC's legal counsel, to determine the procedure to follow in case of establishing disciplinary committees," he stated.
Shakeel Mohamed clarified that the ministry cannot intervene in the actions taken by the police or the DPP, emphasizing that these bodies operate completely independently.