ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi parliament announced on Friday that 29 lawmakers have traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage despite a directive barring MPs from leaving the country ahead of a crucial vote on the new government cabinet.
“Only 29 MPs have travelled for Hajj pilgrimage this year,” parliament said in a statement, noting that the lawmakers were either assigned to oversee the affairs of Iraqi pilgrims in Saudi Arabia or had secured their Hajj slots through the lottery system before being elected to parliament.
The statement came a day after Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi submitted his government program to parliament, paving the way for a confidence vote expected to take place next week, according to the office of Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi.
In preparation for the session, parliament issued instructions prohibiting lawmakers from traveling abroad until the cabinet vote is held.
This year’s Hajj, scheduled to take place between May 24 and 29, is one of Islam’s Five Pillars and is obligatory for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the pilgrimage.
The annual pilgrimage is performed between the 8th and 12th days of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar, with pilgrims typically arriving in advance to prepare in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Safwan Bashir Younish al-Gargari, secretary-general of the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw on Friday that more than 100 MPs are eligible to perform Hajj this year.
“Planes are ready and all preparations have been completed, but instructions were issued stressing that no MP should leave for Hajj until the new cabinet receives parliament’s vote of confidence,” he said.
Lawmaker Gharib Ahmed told Rudaw that many MPs intend to perform Hajj “under the pretext of monitoring” Iraqi pilgrims, arguing that such oversight does not require a large parliamentary delegation.
Around 42,500 Iraqi pilgrims, including 5,120 from the Kurdistan Region, are expected to perform Hajj this year.