Saudi tax on pilgrims on second Haj anti-Shariat, ssay Barelvi clerics

BAREILLY: Barelvi leaders here have opposed Saudi Arabian authorities decision to impose 2,000 Riyal or Rs 36,000 as tax on those who go on a Haj more than once from October 2 this year.
Leaders of the Barelvi school of thought met on Friday at Swaley Nagar here to discuss the issue. Clerics said way back in 1946, Saudi authorities had tried to enforce this tax but as a Barelvi cleric passed a fatwa terming the tax anti-Shariat, it was revoked.Clerics here said that Barelvis across the world would unite to oppose the decsion outside Saudi embassies and mosques.
Maulana Syed Noori, chairman of Raza Academy in Mumbai who was here to attend a meeting, said, “As Saudi authorities are again going to apply the same tax, Barelvi clerics across the world will oppose it. Sunni Barelvi clerics will address gatherings at mosques on Friday to inform people about it and how this tax is wrong in the light of Shariat. We will approach Saudi embassies across the world to protest against the tax which will soon be levied on pilgrims. More fatwa will be passed in this connection,” said Noori.
The Barelvi leaders also demanded the end of monarchy in Saudi Arabia. “On the occasion of Saudi National Day, which is observed on September 23, we demand that there should be democracy in Saudi Arabia rather than a monarchy. Due to the dictatorship of the Saudi king, human rights are violated. Even Islamic rules are being flouted in mosques and other religious places,” said Maulana Shahbudeen Razvi, national general secretary of the All India Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa.