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Azerbaijan's State Committee gives recommendations to organizers of pilgrimage to religious sites in Iran due to coronavirus outbreak

21 February 2020 14:09 (UTC +04:00)

The State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations and the Caucasian Muslims Office have given recommendations to tourism companies regarding the coronavirus danger in Iran, said the chairman of the State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli in his statement to APA.

M. Qurbanli said only the Hajj pilgrimage is implemented under the patronage of the Caucasian Muslims Office: “The pilgrimages to other sacred places are organized by tourism companies. We have recommended to the companies organizing pilgrimages to the sacred religious sites in Iran, Iraq and the Middle East to take into consideration the danger of coronavirus under the current conditions and to approach carefully the issue of taking tourists to those sites. They should impose certain restrictions though temporary to the organization of tourist pilgrimages taking into consideration this danger".

The chairman of the Committee said that in terms of law those tourism companies operate independently: “These companies organize tourist visits not only to religious places but also other tourism places. Therefore it is not possible to put a ban in any form to those companies in terms of legislation. However, recommendations have been given to tourism companies regarding this issue. We have received the representatives of tourism companies and have carried out explanatory work. I am sure that our citizens will also be more perceptible regarding travel issues taking into consideration coronavirus danger. They will follow recommendations of the Health Minister and World Health Organization (WHO) in this regard.