TEHRAN – If the danger posed by swine flu disease becomes serious, the hajj travel will not only be stopped but it will probably be haram (religiously banned), Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi announced on Thursday.

Although Hajj is an important issue, serious dangers must not be overlooked, Makarem Shirazi said in a message to the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization’s inquiry.
Therefore, if the disease remains at its current level, there will not be any problems but if it deteriorates in the next two months a decision must be made to stop its spread, he added.
A total of 238 people in Iran have been so far diagnosed with swine flu, the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.
According to the ministry, hajj pilgrims account for 52% of the patients, and travelers to other countries, especially South-East Asian states, make up 30% of the total number