01 October 2013, 15:36
First flight with pilgrims under Suleiman Kerimov's charity line leaves Dagestan
As reported by Ruslan Gereev, the director of the Centre for Islamic Studies of Northern Caucasus, the number of pilgrims, travelling to the hajj from Dagestan under support of Senator Suleiman Kerimov, has not decreased as compared with 2012. According to the Dagestani Muftiate, the first pilgrims supported by the charity line have already left for the hajj.
This year, the charity programme of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Dagestan and of the businessman Suleiman Kerimov will pay for the travel of 2750 persons. They were selected by a sort of a lottery, held in every dwelling settlement with more than one thousand residents; smaller villages were grouped together for holding a draw.
Every year the number of pilgrims who make their hajj to Mecca from Dagestan under Suleiman Kerimov's charity line makes from 2500 to 3000. The exact number depends on the total quota allocated to the republic for the hajj, said Ruslan Gereev.
At the same time, he has noted that, apart from Kerimov, other patrons are not involved in charities of sending pilgrims from Dagestan to the hajj.
Author: Timur Isaev Source: CK correspondent
