Foreign Secretary launches the 10th British Hajj Delegation
United Kingdom, Tuesday 27th October, 2009
Launching the 10th British Hajj delegation, the UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband praised the contributions of the Muslim community in the progress and development of the country, pledging dispensation of all possible facilities for British Hajj pilgrims.
He appreciated Islamic values for compassion, equality and empathy and said the role of British Muslims in various fields of British life cannot be overlooked. He spoke of the diversity within the Muslim communities living in the UK and said though they may have come from different Muslim backgrounds, yet they are united by bonds of brotherhood and tolerance and mutual respect as enshrined in the Islamic teachings.
Director, Rashid Mogradia of the Council of British Hajjis was amongst a selected guest lists comprising of foreign ambassadors and diplomats invited by the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP at the launch of the 10th British Hajj Delegation to the Hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Every year the Foreign Office sends a delegation to provide medical and consular support to British national performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The Foreign Secretary said the UK has been sending the Hajj delegation for a number of years and its medical contingent has done outstanding job in treating pilgrims only from Britain but other countries as well.
Up until now the UK was the only country in the western world to have sent a delegation to the Hajj. Mr Miliband said that he was please to see our neigbours France take a cue from the British Government and had also decided to send a similar Haj delegation this year. He was hopeful that other European countries where Muslims live in substantial numbers will soon adopt this policy as well.
Lord Adam Patel who will be leading the delegation for the 9th year running was delighted to see that other countries were following suit. 'For Many years people from other countries would come and seek medical help and assistnace from the British Hajj Delegation. Though we could not supply them with medicine, our doctors would offer free consulattions.
He thanked Mr Miliband on behalf of the British Muslim community for ther service the Foriegn and Commonwealth Office provides and thanked Rashid Mogradia from the Council of British Hajjis personally for the outstanding and voluntary work done in promoting health and safety at Hajj and the work of the British Hajj Delegation and running the country's first hajj vaccination clinic.
Prince Mohammad bin Nawaf, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the UK and Ireland told the gathering of the massive development that has taken place in the Holy cities of Makkah and Madina to provide maximum facilities to the pilgrims this year.
He also spoke of the special measures adopted by the authorities to deal with the cases of swine flu and said some 10,000 medical personnel have been recruited to deal with the possible outbreak of the disease.
The Ambassador also noted that ample stockpile of anti-flu viral has been stored to provide immediate relief to any sick pilgrim. He said the Saudi Health Ministry has also prepared a database of all intending pilgrim which would help to facilitate in the treatment of HINI virus should any pilgrim comes down with the disease.
The first flights from the UK flew out early this week and many more will follow in the coming days and weeks. The Hajj is set to take place around 26th November, 2009.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband speaking at the launch of the 10th British Hajj Delegation, 27 October 2009.
L-R Dr Syed Mohiud-din (Chief Doctor), Lord Patel of Blackburn (Head of Delegation), David Miliband (Foreign Secretary) and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf (Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland)
Rashid Mogradia (Director the Council of British Hajjis) and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf (Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland)
Foreign Ambassadors and Diplomats
David Miliband (Foreign Secretary), HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf (Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland), Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn (Leader of the Hajj Delegation) and Dr Syed Mohiud-din (Chief Doctor)
Rashid Mogradia (the Council of British Hajjis), David Miliband (Foreign Secretary) and Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn ((Head of Delegation)
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