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FROM next year, Singaporean Muslim women under the age of 45 will be totally barred from going on the annual haj pilgrimage to Mecca unless accompanied by a close male relative.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said yesterday that it would no longer make appeals to the Saudi Arabian authorities on behalf of women in that category who wish to make the haj pilgrimage by themselves.
The decision was reached after two consecutive years of failed appeals, said Muis.
'We should respect the laws they (Saudi Arabia) have laid down,' Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim added at a send-off for 99 Muslim pilgrims at Changi Airport yesterday.
Under these rules, female pilgrims under 45 must be accompanied by their mahram during the month-long journey to Mecca. Mahram in Islamic tradition refers to a close male relative; for married women, it starts with the husband, while for singles it starts with the father.
Those unable to find such a travelling partner will have to postpone their pilgrimage.
Older Muslim women do not face these restrictions.
Last year, 70 Singaporean Muslim women missed out on the haj after appeals to the Saudi authorities by Muis on their behalf failed.
Another 56 were unsuccessful this year. Fortunately, five of the 56 later managed to get their mahrams to accompany them, said Muis.
Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
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