Saudi king invites Thai Muslims to attend pilgrimage

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia has officially invited 250 Thai Muslims to attend the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the Muslim holy shrines in Mecca and Madina this month, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in Bangkok on Wednesday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Don Pramudwinai told Thai news agency TNA that the group of 250 Thai Muslims would be guests of the Saudi Arabian government, which had also offered to be responsible for all expenses concerning the sacred activity for the Thais.

The move represents an unprecedented good will and friendly gesture of the Saudi Arabian royal family towards Thai Muslims after Thai-Saudi relations have been stalled over the past 20 years, he said.

Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan would lead the group of Thai Muslims for the Hajj between March 15 and 19, he stated.

The Thai foreign minister was also invited to be a speaker of a forum, entitled Ties and Cooperation Between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, to be held in Mecca on March 11, said Don.

About 10,000 Thai Muslims are expected to fly to Mecca to attend the Hajj this year.