I am suprised this has not been mentioned here yet! As 23,000 or so British Muslims have made the journey for the pilgrimage I wonder how many Turkish people (muslims) make the journey, and would it be difficult to make that journey considering all the visa red tape you have to endure to go anywhere.

As far as I know (from my father in law) it's fairly easy to get a visa when you're going on hajj. You get a special identity card (or the like) and off you go.

Well, to my knowledge the visa requirements are NOT always so strict. For example to travel to another muslim country is fairly easy, and some of the far east, India and Cuba for example Its only the other countries that create the "red tape", not Turkey.

Also, once you have applied and travelled on one visa, the next visa application is easier.