publish time

24/12/2016

author name Arab Times

publish time

24/12/2016

author name Arab Times
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 23: Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has addressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with concerned Saudi authorities to resolve the issue of the “Bedoun” with regard to their inability to perform the rites of the pilgrimage (Haj) and Umrah (minor pilgrimage).In a letter to the Foreign Ministry, Awqaf Ministry said Bedouns were unable to perform Haj and Umrah in the previous pilgrimage season as they could not acquire visas due to the automated code of identifying nationality.The letter explained that passports provided to Bedoun are of article 17 — the same article of passports for Kuwaitis; thus, the system reads Bedoun passports as Kuwaiti passports and they only need Haj permission rather than visa.By Abdul-Nasser Al-Aslami Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies