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Press Release – ‘Journey of a Lifetime’ ‐ Operator Guilty

‘Journey of a Lifetime’ ‐Operator Guilty

15th March, 2011 London, UK

The Council of British Hajjis (CBHUK) has issued a stark warning to unscrupulous Tour Operators that the practices of not delivering promised services to pilgrims will not be tolerated and action will be sought to bring them to justice.

The warning comes as Slough Council successfully prosecuted a man who charged pilgrims £2500 per person but failed to obtain the necessary Hajj visas in time and ended up outsourcing thee trip to Hijaz Travel in Ilford for £2,100 per person.

Yasin Ahmed – Head of Operations at CBHUK said

“Let the case in Birmingham last year and the recent one in Slough act as a deterrent for those seeking to make a quick profit by offering Hajj & Umrah packages and services and then not delivering their promises. The courts have sent a strong message that this type of crime will not be tolerated”

In recent years the number of cases has been on the rise. At the World Hajj & Umrah Convention 2012 held last month in London, Steve Head, Detective Chief Superintendent of the City of London Police in charge of the unit responsible for the investigation of Serious and Organised Fraud for England & Wales sought help from the community and urged victims to report such crimes by “developing a closer working relationship” and “by working as one community” to tackle and prevent this type of crime.

CBHUK is working closely with statutory bodies to bring justice to the hundreds of people who fall foul each year to un-regulated companies and advises anyone wishing to book a pilgrimage to do so with tour operators who are approved by the Ministry of Hajj and have an Air Travel Operators License (ATOL) for total peace of mind. They are also urging victims who have experienced Hajj or Umrah fraud or know anyone who has to report it this online and in confidence at www.cbhuk.org. –

Ends Notes to Editors

  • The Council of British Hajjis (CBHUK) is a national registered charity (no. 11463233) working at grass roots for the welfare of British pilgrims and overseas travellers.
  • It is the only Hajj & Umrah specific organisation who is the official partner of the Foreign & Commonwealth Offices’ “Know Before You Go Campaign” on delivering travel advice into communities.
  • CBHUK is working with the City of London Police to address Hajj fraud nationally and will be holding a series of seminars and workshops to deliver advice on prevention of how not to fall victim to unscrupulous tour operators.
  • CBHUK recently launched a travel vaccination on campaign at the World Hajj & Umrah Convent ion which was held at the prestigious British Museum and delivering clinics in towns and cities across the UK. For further information, visit www.cbhuk.org. For Media enquiries, please call 08845 833 4145 or email info@cbhuk.org.