Mauritius Minister: Saudi Ambassador Offered Hajj Visas to ICC Chairman’s Family

Mauritian Minister of Hajj, Shakeel Mohamed, responded to a letter sent to the Financial Crimes Commission that alleged irregular visa allocations for the wife and son of Shamad Ayoob Saab, chairman of the Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC). Mohamed said the Saudi ambassador to Mauritius met with him about two months before the Hajj season and, in his presence, offered two visas for the ICC chairman’s family, outside the regular quota of 1,520 visas, so that no other applicant would be disadvantaged.

He added that the ambassador later suggested the ICC request five additional visas, citing difficulties in processing the two offered visas through the NUSUK system. Mohamed clarified that the chairman was not in Mauritius at the time; the request was sent by Gaffoor Kassim, not by Saab himself. According to Mohamed, the two visas were eventually cancelled and never handed over to the chairman’s relatives.