Islamic Ministry has launched a probe into the case of last-minute cancelation of the trips of pilgrims set to depart to Saudi Arabia this morning for Umrah by Safa Hajj and Umrah Group citing non-receipt of visas.

Many pilgrims who have made payments to Safa Group for their Umrah trips were scheduled to depart this morning. Safa Group announced the last-minute cancellation of the trip this dawn via a message to the pilgrims’ Viber group.

Islamic Ministry, commenting on the matter, said a complaint over the last-minute cancellation has been filed with the ministry. Subsequently, they have launched an investigation into the matter.

“The Ministry is closely investigating the case,” they said.

Safa Group’s message read that no visas have been issued by Saudi Arabia’s Umrah visa-issuing body to the group so far, therewith, instructing pilgrims scheduled to depart this morning against going to the airport. It further stated that additional information regarding the trip will be shared at a later time.

Over 130 pilgrims from Safa group were scheduled to depart today. Out of these pilgrims, some were scheduled to depart this morning while the others are scheduled to depart tonight.

Pilgrims scheduled to depart will be performing Umrah through the last 15 days of Ramadan and the first six days of Shawwal. The price for the trip is MVR 40,000.

The last-minute cancellation has sparked anger from many pilgrims who had already made their payments. Safa Group was not available for a comment on the matter, thereby, no further details are in order at this time.

Maldives has previously seen pilgrims defrauded by Hajj and Umrah groups in scams where pilgrims have not been sent to Umrah or Hajj after acquiring payment from them.