AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The first batch of Thai Hajj pilgrims left Bangkok on Wednesday, June 5.
The ceremony to see off the pilgrims was held at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the Thai capital.
The Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, Arun Boonchom, a deputy interior minister and other state officials as well as representatives from the Saudi embassy in the Southeast Asian country attended the ceremony.
This year, a total of 2,200 Muslims from Thailand will perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
They will travel to Saudi Arabia in 6 flights from June 5 to 11, and return from the spiritual journey from July 12 to 17.
Like previous years, a special medical team will also be sent to Saudi Arabia to provide health and medical services to the Thai pilgrims.
Thailand is a country at the center of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia.
Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand making up about five percent of the country’s 70 million population.
Islam was first introduced to the Thai people by Sheikh Ahmad Qomi.
He was an Iranian Shia Muslim who promoted Islam in Thailand in the 16th century AD and became the country’s first Sheikh-ul-Islam.
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