'Exorbitant' Saudi visa fees a concern for muslims (SA)

Anger is flaring up among the Muslim community in South Africa due to the Saudi Arabian authority's implementation of higher Visa fees.

Jamiatul Ulama Secretary-General, Yusuf Abramjee says the increase of the Visa fees from around R1 500 to about R9 000 is exorbitant.

The South African Muslim community has started an online petition which received 10 000 signatures and an urgent meeting was held on Sunday night.

Speaking on Morning Live Abramjee says Muslims from around the world go on pilgrimage to their holy land, and that such an  increase will have a severe impact on those wishing to go.

The main pilgrimage is the Hajj which is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that must be carried out, if possible, at least once in a lifetime.

Pilgrims can also go to Mecca to perform Umrah, a pilgrimage that may be carried out at other times of the year.

He says the increase is not only affecting South Africans but rather is a global issue for all Muslims. "A number of countries have voiced their anger at what the Saudi government has decided to implement."