Sannusi,
You may be right as I happen to know something about how the hajj system works here in the US. Yes some richer muslim countries collect zakat tul mal ( some form of compulsory taxation which is about 2.5 % of cash assets at year's end) from some muslims who have performed the pilgrimage already he/she would donate the extra funds to someone else who has not done so yet as a form of charity. or it could be just a goodwill gesture to the people of the Gambia (for example) from a rich muslim ruler.
Unfortunately the money does not go directly into the hands of the intending pilgrims but to the ruling government parties who in turn choose their friends or sympathizers to go. many new reverts(converts ) get such tickets and acomodation covered fully or just the tickets and they cover their hotel etc.
sadly it is similar to a situation like say what the rotary club would do ie to build water wells for some villages in the Gambia and the ruling party would insist or manipulate the wells to be dug in the villages that support the government not the villages who is known as opposition sympathizers . this happens all the time it is not new even here
Another good example is when scholarship is awarded to say ten students to study in a foreign university be it religious or just academics the education minister hushes it up and gives them to family or friends .
There must be some merit equation to stop this form of nepotism .
It is wrong it should go to those who really deserve it but we all know what happens some even choose themselves or thier spouses or choildren to benefit rather than share with the Gambian population
best regards
>From: Sanusi Owens <
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>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <
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>To:
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>Subject: Re: A show of generosity?
>Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 16:40:15 +0000
>
>Mr Jaiteh
>
>Thanks for the forward.
>
>I am surprise that a country like Gambia in its
>present economic crisis can afford to sponsor 100
>GAMBIANS to perform the hajj.
>
>I have a sneaking feeling that this was a donation
>from an Arab state which has suddenly fall into the
>hands of the APRC hierarchy.
>
>The truth shall one day prevail.
>
>Sanusi
>
>
>
>
> --- Malanding Jaiteh <
[log in to unmask]>wrote: >
>At a cost of D43,286 per Pilgrim, the total cost of
> > sponsoring 100 Pilgrims
> > is D4,328,600! I pray and hope that President Jammeh
> > and his advisers
> > realized that there are cheaper ways to buy
> > popularity.
> >
> > As some would say the operation was successful but
> > the patient died!
> >
> >
> > Malanding
> >
> >
> > 100 Benefit From APRC Hajj Package
> >
> >
> >
> > Email This Page
> >
> > Print This Page
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > The Daily Observer (Banjul)
> >
> > January 7, 2003
> > Posted to the web January 7, 2003
> >
> > Lamin M Dibba
> > Banjul
> >
> > The deputy administrative secretary of the APRC
> > party, Kebba Kinteh, has
> > said his party will sponsor about 100 pilgrims for
> > the 2003 hajj.
> >
> > In an interview with the Daily Observer at the APRC
> > political bureau
> > yesterday, Mr Kinteh said the selection of the
> > pilgrims for the 2003 hajj
> > package is coordinated by the divisional council of
> > elders and supervised by
> > divisional commissioners and mayors in all the
> > districts countrywide.
> >
> > "The 100 sponsored pilgrims are going under the
> > Presidential hajj package
> > and therefore they should project the ever existing
> > good image of The Gambia
> > and its leadership. I would also want to tell them
> > that in their prayers,
> > they should remember the country and its
> > leadership.They should be sharing
> > and caring among themselves and help one another as
> > one family." Alpha Omar
> > Jallow, the Bakau APRC chairman who is also among
> > the selected beneficiaries
> > for the 2003 hajj said, "President Jammeh is a true
> > Muslim and this is a
> > clear manifestation that he has The Gambia at heart.
> > He usually does the
> > same for the Christians during their pilgrimage to
> > Rome." Serigne Mboob,
> > also a sponsored pilgrim from Panchang in the
> > Central River Division urged
> > all Gambians to rally behind President Jammeh.
> >
> > Fatou Mbenga, a native of Serrekunda, another
> > beneficiary said all the women
> > should rally behind President Jammeh for his
> > generosity to the womenfolk.
> > "He has helped women have their voices heard and to
> > have equal opportunity
> > in national development priorities." Saikou Jah,
> > Yaya K Sanneh and Fah
> > Ceesay all called on the Gambian people to support
> > President Jammeh.
> >
> >
> >
> >
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