Islamic Ministry Lodges Police Complaint Against Mash’ar Tours

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has lodged an offical police complaint against Mash’ar Tours, a travel agency offering Umrah packages, for violating regulation and stranding a group of pilgrims in Mecca.

According to Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, a police complaint was lodged yesterday to investigate and address the concerns raised against an organization that has been collecting funds from individuals in a manner inconsistent with established rules.

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Mash’ar Tours, headed by Ali Farish, has found itself in the spotlight after approximately 50 individuals who participated in Umrah trips organized by the agency last Ramadan are currently stranded in Mecca. This development has raised serious questions about the agency’s operational practices and its adherence to regulatory requirements.

Ali Farish, the owner of Mash’ar Tours, had previously operated under the name Al Mash’ar Hajj and Umrah Group, until the ministry revoked the group’s permission due to bounced cheque incidents involving unpaid ticket dues from 138 individuals who traveled during last Ramadan. Undeterred by past setbacks, Farish established Mash’ar Tours to continue offering Umrah trips, despite the absence of registration with the Ministry of Tourism as a legitimate travel entity.

Investigations by local media outlet Mihaaru uncovered troubling details about Mash’ar Tours’ operations. Pilgrims were reportedly instructed to procure return tickets independently, with promises of reimbursement within 30 days. However, many had already prepaid for their tickets, only to find themselves stranded in Mecca as the agency failed to settle payment obligations.

Furthermore, Agent Ace Travels, the entity responsible for selling tickets to Mashar Tours, took the drastic step of canceling return tickets last month due to non-payment issues. This left Maldivians who had embarked on Umrah journeys through Mashar Tours in a precarious situation, with their return plans thrown into disarray.

A family member of stranded pilgrims expressed frustration at the sudden cancellation of return tickets, revealing that assurances of refunds within 30 days offered little solace to those facing immediate challenges. 

The Umrah package, priced at MVR 38,500, was supposed to cover a 21-day fasting Umrah, including return tickets, visas, travel, and accommodation with meals in Mecca and Medina.

The recurrence of such issues highlights the urgent need for stricter oversight and regulation of Umrah travel agencies to protect the interests of pilgrims.