Tehran, August 31: Iran has decided to place restrictions on pilgrims for the annual Haj pilgrimage expected to begin Nov. 19, in a bid to limit the spread of swine flu, the Mehr news agency reported.
“People over the age of 65 and children under 12 will be prohibited from going to the Haj” the head of the Iranian Haj organization Mostafa Khaksar Qahroudi said. He said those suffering from various lung, heart, kidney and other life-threatening ailments would also be banned from performing the pilgrimage.
Iran has already canceled flights to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan for the Umrah so as to minimize the spread of A(H1N1).
–Agencies–