Amman, Jordan, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Sites and Affairs, Dr. Abdel Salam Al Abbadi, declared that five big projects are currently underway at Al Aqsa Mosque as a generous donation from His Majesty King Abdulla II.
He added that the cost of these projects exceeds 2 millions JOD, and they are under constant follow up by the Hashemite leadership who assumes the custody and care tasks of the holy sites in Jerusalem.
He mentioned also that there are joint efforts with the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem of the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments to preserve the Arab Islamic identity of Al Aqsa Mosque.
During "Amman this Morning" Program, presented by Ahmad Fahim, the Minister pointed out that the efforts of the Ministry, with more than 600 employees including Al Aqsa Mosque guardians, do face the big challenges imposed by the occupation authorities over the Mosque, not to mention the settlements in the city.
He emphasized that this undertaking falls under Jordan's comprehensive plan supported by His Majesty King Abdulla II, to help the Palestinians restore their national rights of founding their independent state, with the holy Jerusalem as a capital.
Al Abbadi tackled the procedures taken by the Ministry to facilitate the processes for the pilgrims this year, in addition to other matters related to the mosques, rehabilitating the Imams, and the Ministry's activities for the coming month of Ramadan.
He clarified that the Ministry's role is to supervise and organize the pilgrimage affairs, referring to the early preparation of the pilgrimage of this year, and the separation between the Ministry's tasks as organizer, supervisor, and auditor.
The Ministry of Endowments requested the contracting and transferring companies to ensure transportations and accommodations according to certain standards specified and supervised directly by the Ministry, clarifying that if in cases of failure in extending any service, it shall be corrected on the spot to avoid any detrimental impact on the pilgrims, and at later stage, the responsible party shall be punished by a financial mulct according to the malfunction.
He said that we are custodians of the pilgrims, providing them with the suitable service, and that these procedures shall contribute to organizing the pilgrimage matters, and to opening honest competition among the companies, which shall eventually affect the quality service rendered to the pilgrim who can choose the accredited, qualified company, and the services he wants upon a contract between the two parties, while the Ministry follows up and watches the company to ensure that it provides the service of the signed contract.
Responding to a citizen's request of finding a quota for the youth, the Minister stressed that all exemptions of the past years, which represented at least 50% of the pilgrimage delegation, are cancelled now.
He stated that the system currently followed is committing to the rounds, and the chances of youth in the pilgrimage are associated with the need of an accompanying person with the old and the sick, and it is worth noting that 25% of the companions are young people.
Al Abbadi said that 3000 mosques in the Kingdom lack the qualified imams, and that transforming the muezzin to an imam position shall be in association with a qualification programs, not only dependent on his own desire.
He mentioned that the Ministry is setting up a plan to open over 5000 summer centers in all the Kingdom governorates, to receive thousands of the youth, memorize the Holy Quran, and strengthen their bonds with this great religion, in addition to special courses on Amman international message to be held, starting next June.
On going also are the preparations of the scientific Hashemite sessions, and the International Hashemite Contest of Holy Quran, to which 35 countries have been invited, within the Ministry's programs for Ramadan that will be rich with plans and details.
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© Press Release 2010
