Criminals will be arrested, punished, says IDB president JEDDAH – Criminals found selling fake coupons to Haj pilgrims for sacrificial animals will be arrested and prosecuted. This was the assurance given by Dr. Ahmad Mohammed Ali, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Wednesday, after a press briefing on the Kingdom's “Project for the Utilization of Haj Meat”. He urged Haj pilgrims to be aware of such people. He warned pilgrims about criminals selling fake coupons at prices lower than the IDB's price. “They make their own coupons and sell these illegally,” he added. The cost of a coupon is SR410 ($109, or €83). He said the price is broken down into SR333 for the animal, SR68 for slaughter, skinning and cleaning, and SR9 for distribution and transportation. The coupons are available at Al-Rajhi Bank, Al-Amoudi Exchange, Hadyat Al-Haj Wal Mutamir entities, and Saudi Post outlets throughout the Kingdom. The coupons are also available online through the project's website: www.adahi.org. He explained that the website is designed to enable pilgrims to buy animals with a credit card or through money transfer. “We are asking pilgrims to avoid dealing with any individual outside of the project. These people are harming the environment of the holy places by sacrificing (animals) outside the designated slaughterhouses. They are damaging the soil of the holy land, even the underground water,” he said, adding that such violators will be arrested and prosecuted. He added that animals for the Haj sacrifice are bought through open tenders from approved countries around the world. “The most important criterion is that they should meet the requirements set by the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture. The animals should be free from diseases as per the regulations of the ministry,” Ali stressed. The project was established 28 years ago to serve pilgrims by providing sheep and animals that meet all Shariah and health requirements. “The animals are inspected by veterinarians and Shariah scholars.” The Saudi government has spent more than SR1 billion on modern automated slaughterhouses, which are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, said Ali. More than 40,000 people are part of the Project, including four Shariah scholars, 700 veterinarians and more than 20,000 assistant veterinarians and doctors. Ali was accompanied at Wednesday's press briefing by Hofan Al-Shamrani, director of the Project's office, and members of the diplomatic corps in the Kingdom in charge of Haj affairs. This year the Project is providing 700,000 sheep and 10,000 camels and cows. Last year there were 664,623 sheep and 9,569 cows and camels. number of approved slaughterhouses, capable of dealing with thousands of animals, are in Moaisem. Pilgrims can slaughter their own animals at enclosed slaughterhouses, but only with a special access permit. A group of 30 pilgrims can authorize one person to slaughter on their behalf. Ali said that pilgrims should avoid rush periods, normally the first day of Eid Al-Adha from 10 A.M. to about 4 P.M., and the second day from dawn (Fajr) prayer till noon. He advised pilgrims to slaughter by proxy to avoid overcrowding. Ali said the Project allows pilgrims to concentrate on the Haj rites and perform the pilgrimage in ease and comfort. Pilgrims can also be assured that the meat is distributed to the poor at the Grand Mosque and in Holy Sites, and to many needy communities around the globe. Currently, between 300,000 to 500,000 carcasses are sent abroad to more than 27 countries. “More countries may be included in future,” said Ali.
