By NNN-KUNA,
Paris : French authorities have said that they expect around 50,000 Muslims to leave from France or transit through here from third countries heading to the haj pilgrimage next month.
Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Frederic Desagneaux said Tuesday that the French government had printed up 50,000 “guide booklets” for the pilgrims.
The Foreign Ministry has been working with several other ministries and agencies in preparing this years haj, the official indicated. These include the Interior Ministry, the Economy Ministry, and the Tourism Syndicate, as well as the Paris-based French Council for the Muslim Faith (CFCM) and the Association for Solidarity and Tourism.
The Foreign Ministry official also said that Saudi Arabia had been involved in helping with information for the production of the guide.
Desagneaux stressed that France, which has close to six million Muslims, would be doing everything to cater to the people leaving from this country to Saudi Arabia.
Two French stations will be operating, one operated jointly by France and Saudi Arabia in Mecca, and one at the airport in Jeddah, with assistance facilities for pilgrims.
The spokesman further added that the number of incidents of repatriation for health reasons or injuries or deaths involving French-based Muslims was on the decline each year.
The aim of the “guide booklet” is also to prevent any attempts at fraud or mismanagement of travel arrangements from France to the haj.