Saudi Authorities Cancel Hajj Visas for Under-15s, Affecting Mauritian Families

Five Mauritian teenagers have had their Hajj visas abruptly cancelled following a last-minute directive from Saudi Arabian authorities, throwing travel plans into disarray just days before their scheduled departure.

The decision, announced late on 1 May, stipulates that pilgrims under the age of 15 are no longer permitted to travel for this year’s pilgrimage.

While the immediate impact is felt by five local families, early indications suggest the restriction has been applied to several other nations alongside Mauritius.

Shakeel Mohamed, the Minister of Housing and Lands and official lead on the Hajj dossier, confirmed that the sudden move has caused significant distress among families and organisers.

The affected pilgrims were due to fly to Saudi Arabia within the coming days.

“This sudden decision has deeply upset the families concerned,” Minister Mohamed stated, noting that the government is now seeking urgent clarification.

Since Saturday morning, 2 May, the Minister has been in direct negotiations with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, the relevant Deputy Minister, and the Saudi Ambassador to Mauritius.

The primary objective of these high-level discussions is to obtain an official explanation for the policy shift and to explore potential solutions for the stranded teenagers.

As of now, the exact reasons behind the age restriction remain uncommunicated by Saudi officials, leaving families in a state of uncertainty.

The Mauritian government continues to monitor the situation closely as they await a formal response from Riyadh.

Source: l’Express