Russian Council Of Muftis Allocates Quotas For 2013 Hajj

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in October 2012.

Russia's Council of Muftis has met and decided how to allocate the 20,500 slots that Saudi Arabia has given Russia for the 2013 hajj in October.

Media reported on May 3 that the council met on April 29 in Moscow to debate the allocation.

Daghestan was given 8,000 spots, as compared to 8,450 in 2012.

Originally, the North Caucasus republic was offered just 4,000 spots, but the representatives of Tatarstan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Bashkortostan reportedly voluntarily gave up some of their slots in Daghestan's favor.

On May 2, businessman Suleiman Kerimov, who represents Daghestan in Russia's Federation Council, announced he will pay for 2,750 citizens of the impoverished republic to make the hajj, which is one of the most important religious rites of Islam.

Based on reporting by Kavkaz-uzel.ru and Tatar-inform