On its part, the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars today issued a statement endorsing the Saudi Government's decision. The General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and the Saudi government for their great efforts to serve the two Holy Mosques and Muslims. In a statement issued after its meeting chaired by Sheikh Tahir Mahmud Ashraf, the Council of Pakistani Scholars endorsed the Kingdom's wise decision to preserve the health and safety of pilgrims. For his part, Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, affirmed the full support of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the decision taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said in a statement reported by Bahrain News Agency that this decision came as a guardian of the Hajj ritual, and in compliance with the requirements of legal necessity, that preserves the human soul, and in line with international requirements and standards to combat this global epidemic. He emphasized that "the Kingdom of Bahrain, affirms its support for the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all decisions and procedures that guarantee the safety and security of all in general and pilgrims in the Grand Holy Mosque in particular, it highly appreciated this decision, which is consistent with the essence of the true Islamic religion that came to preserve the five necessities including religion, soul, mind, honor and money." On its part, the Chamber of Egyptian Tourism Companies also affirmed its full support for the Kingdom's decision. In a statement reported by the Egyptian Middle East News Agency, the Chamber’s Board of Directors headed by Hussam Al-Shaer praised the Kingdom’s keenness, as always, for the safety and health of pilgrims. For his part, Al-Azhar Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb asserted that the Kingdom’s decision is a wise and legally rewarded decision, and takes into consideration not to disrupt Hajj, and reflects the concern for the safety of pilgrims. In a statement carried by the Egyptian Middle East News Agency, Al-Azhar praised the efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in the service of pilgrims, facilitating for them and maintaining their safety. The Egyptian Dar Al Iftaa also affirmed that the Kingdom’s decision is consistent with the provisions and purposes of Islamic Sharia to preserve the lives and safety of pilgrims. For his part, Arab Parliament Speaker Dr. Meshaal bin Fahim Al-Salami affirmed in a statement to Saudi Press Agency that this wise decision reflects the Kingdom’s keenness to hold Hajj ritual in a safe manner, in order to achieve the requirements of prevention and social separation necessary to ensure the safety of pilgrims and protect them from the risks of this pandemic. The Minister of Endowments in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar Jumaa, affirmed that the Kingdom’s decision is consistent with the intention of the true Sharia in preserving oneself, pointing out that the decision comes within the framework of the Kingdom’s keenness to enable pilgrims to perform the rituals of Hajj. The head of the International Council of Muslim Societies, Dr. Ali Rashid Al-Nuaimi, affirmed the council’s support for the decision. He pointed to the importance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s decision at this current and accurate time. The Kingdom's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah statement concluded "The government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is honored to serve millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims annually and it confirms that this decision stems from the top priority it accords to maintaining the safety of pilgrims on its land until they depart to their home countries." --SPA 16:05 LOCAL TIME 13:05 GMT 0025 www.spa.gov.sa/w1355962