The Council of British Hajjis (CBHUK) is calling for the government to extend support to British citizens performing the Hajj.

Over the past few months, the council has been inundated with complaints from pilgrims who have been duped out of paying for pilgrimage packages which fell short of what they actually got.

This follows a similar call by the consumer watchdogs in Birmingham seeking the government to supports its’ fight against rogue travel agents who rip people off by selling them pilgrimage packages to Saudi Arabia which did not exist.

Rashid Mogradia, CEO at CBHUK said “We have launched an e-petition calling the government to support British nationals who go for Hajj and addressing the issues of unscrupulous tour operators, it is time the public got behind the campaign so that we can start to sort this mess out.

"It is clear the problem exists as recent prosecutions in Birmingham and Slough and the numbers of cases reported to us are on the rise”.

CBHUK is working closely with statutory bodies to bring justice to the hundreds of people who fall foul each year to un-regulated companies and advises anyone wishing to book a pilgrimage to do so with tour operators who are approved by the Ministry of Hajj and have an Air Travel Operators License (ATOL) for total peace of mind.

They are urging the community to support its’ campaign by signing the e-petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/4849and for victims who have experienced Hajj or Umrah fraud or know anyone who has to report it this online and in confidence at www.cbhuk.org.