Saudi king invites Bhutanese Muslims for Hajj

King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz of Saudi Arab has invited Bhutanese Muslim pilgrims to take part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

In a decree publicised on Sunday (September 29), King Abdullah announced that he would host at least 1,400 pilgrims from around the globe for the Hajj.

Announcing the decree Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, the minister of Islamic affairs, endowments, said in his statement, “The King’s order embodies his permanent concern over the interests of Muslims across the world.”

The pilgrims that the Saudi kingdom will be hosting this year come from Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Singapore, Myanmar, Japan, Laos, Bhutan, New Guinea, Taiwan, South Korea, the Maldives, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, South Sudan and many other African countries.

However it is not known whether there will be any Muslims from Bhutan participating in the Hajj. The religion is banned and the government record does not know any presence of Muslim in Bhutan.

Bhutan does not allow religions other than Buddhism and Hinduism.