Hajj-going from Britain The Pilgrimage Industry, Welfare Organisations & UK Government

1. Hajj-going from Britain The Pilgrimage Industry, Welfare Organisations & UK Government Dr Seán McLoughlin Theology & Religious Studies University of Leeds New Forms of Public Religion St John’s College, University of Cambridge 5-7 September 2012

2. Overview • 1) British Muslims and the Changing Hajj Industry • 2) Pilgrim Welfare Organisations • 3) UK Government & the Hajj

3. Background • 2001 - previous work with British Pakistanis in Lancashire • http://www.leeds.ac.uk/hajj/research.htm • 2011 – 8 x 2hr initial interviews on the UK “Hajj industry” • In addition to 30 more interviews with British Muslim pilgrims • 2011/12 – survey @ https://www.survey.leeds.ac.uk/hajj • 211 responses - mid20s-40s, educated, ‘very’/‘somewhat’ religious • See also: the British Museum’s “Hajj stories” website • http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/hajj/hajj_stories.aspx

4. 1) British Muslims & the Changing Hajj Industry • Changing expectations of Hajj going with migration • Survey: 35% of grandparents had been, 80% of parents • Survey: religious duty key in determining when go (53%) • But personal need / spiritual journey important too (30%) • “Guests of God” – an invitation from Allah • But also financial, family, work & other constraints • Intensely foregrounded by media compared to the past • Information widely available - guide books, satellite tv, etc • but still anxiety / concern about fiqh (law), adab (manners) & modernisation

5. 1) British Muslims & the Changing Hajj Industry • 18-25k go for Hajj, 100k for Umrah (highest in Europe) • High risk for operators, tight deadlines, rising costs • but demand has grown – British Muslim youth demographic; so potentially lucrative profits - £1k+pp (estimated) • Transformation of Hajj organisation from the mid-2000s • Saudi Kingdom’s response to overcrowding, health & safety, and logistics • Pilgrims must book a hotel room through an operator (group size = 150-500) but flights can be booked separately • Operators must be Ministry of Hajj approved (UK=75) • Professionalisation & consumer choice, £6k for 5* to < £3k • Pyramid of operator sub-agents at the bottom end - don’t always deliver • In making their arrangements, many pilgrims still often rely upon an informal bond of trust with family, imams - not contracts

6. 2) Pilgrim Welfare Organisations • “I think the Hajjis from the non-Muslim countries are treated like orphans ... There is no kind of Hajj mission at the government level” (Government officer, British Muslim background) • In Muslim countries government has a key role in planning & facilitation of the Hajj in Saudi Arabia • “I wish there was a mufti of the UK who would dictate all those things ... but I don’t see that happening at all” (as above) • Question of religious authority but also organisational capacity is an issue • “We're not here for profit. It's solely for the purpose & pleasure of the Almighty Allah to ensure that his guests get the ultimate experience” (Pilgrim Welfare Organisation representative) • Religious service (khidmat) & the complexities of British Muslim voluntary organisations/civil society, their relationship to the state and ‘communities’

7. 2) Pilgrim Welfare Organisations • Association of British Hujjaj • Established 1998, Birmingham • Migrant generation Pakistani businessmen / professionals • Lack of support for British-Muslims if death, theft, etc while on Hajj • Need to educate pilgrims on health & safety, as well as the industry. • Lobbied government • Taken up by Lord Ahmed • Idea of a Hajj delegation from 2000 • Need for special state regulation of UK Hajj / Umrah industry.

8. 2) Pilgrim Welfare Organisations • Council of British Hajjis • Established 2006 • Gujerati Indian networks, Bolton-based. NB Lord Patel connection. • British-born generation • Key messages still not reaching the grassroots - “Put your faith in God but tie a camel!” • Operators need leadership • Code of practice? Self-regulation? • One voice to address the Saudis - a British Hajj & Umrah Council?

9. 3) UK Government & the Hajj • 2000 - New Labour & the first UK Hajj Delegation • Regulation – responding to public health through partnerships • Recognition, soft power & good relations at home & abroad • First time that a non-Muslim country took such an initiative • Led by a political dignitary (Lord Ahmed, Lord Patel) • FCO consular advice & funded trips of several volunteer medics • Base in Makkah. No need to travel to Jeddah or Riyadh. • Thousands treated over 2-3 weeks; cost up to £85k with some sponsorship • The new Coalition government, Big Society and a ‘smaller state’ • 2010: FCO discontinued support for volunteer medics • Not about the financial crisis and cuts? • A service without precedent, reduced demand & improved local provision?

10. 3) UK Government & the Hajj • Trading Standards in a London Borough (Tower Hamlets) • 34 complaints in the last 2 years • Civil complaints – changes to verbal agreements, e.g. different routes, stopovers, rooming, other services. • Criminal investigations of documented fraud • Case of Qibla Hajj Kafela Services (2009) • Cheap packages & absconded with £500k+, hundreds of passports • Response demanded by British Bengali mayor / councillors • Trading Standards visited mosques. NB addressing religious & cultural reasons for not complaining. • Held seminars for operators with FCO, CAA, BIS. Emergence of a self-policing association (10-12 members, 80% of local industry, ATOL registrations up). • Little local awareness of ABH or CBH