The Hajj and the pilgrimage are upon us. Iranians by thousands are currently in Saudi Arabia trying to fulfill their religious duty as Muslims. This is at the time when Iran is suffering from massive unemployment and when more than 60% of the general population is below poverty according to the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Health. It is further reported that 70% of children in Iran are starving and live below poverty.

Considering our own children are suffering and are in more need of help, could we make the argument that Iranians should seek salvation from helping our children first?

Could we make the argument that Muslim Iranians should visit the Iranian villages and for the duration of Hajj help in reconstructing our own country?

Could the argument be made that Muslim Iranians should spend the money that they spend in Saudi Arabia in our own homeland in educating, and feeding our own children?

So we like to ask your opinion in the form of a YES or NO vote.

• YES: Muslim Iranians should go to Hajj without considering the need at home
• NO: Muslim Iranians should NOT go to Hajj considering the need at home.

This petition is by no means against Hajj or the Islamic rules. It is simply a question of the merits of our own actions when our nation is in such a dire need for help.

Apologies: This petition was first posted and had a total of 10 Yes- and 31 No votes. It was brought to our attention that the question raised and the YES/NO options were opposite to each other. In order to stay correct and true to the spirit of the petition we decided to delete all votes and start the petition over. We apologize for the mistake but hope the corrective action is a correct path forward.