{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1756427,
        "msgid": "director-general-prevention-of-non-procedural-hajj-departures-is-a-form-of-state-protection-1779542342",
        "date": "2026-05-22 07:15:18",
        "title": "Director-General: Prevention of non-procedural Hajj departures is a form of state protection",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Regulation",
        "summary": "The Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration says preventing non-procedural Hajj departures is a preventive measure to protect citizens, citing real-time data integration across immigration checkpoints and ongoing enforcement at Kualanamu International Airport. The move aims to shield Indonesians from exploitation, fraud, and legal vulnerabilities, with 157 such cases prevented during Haj 2026.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta (ANTARA) - Director General of Immigration Hendarsam\nMarantoko of the Ministry of Immigration and Penitentiary said that\npreventing non-procedural haj departures is a form of state protection\nfor Indonesian citizens. \u201cThis preventive measure is a precautionary\nstep for the safety of the pilgrims,\u201d Hendarsam said in a statement in\nJakarta on Friday. Hendarsam again reminded that decisive immigration\nactions to stop non-procedural haj departures are not meant to be\nrestrictive. \u201cThe spirit of \u2018Immigration for the People\u2019 means we exist\nto protect all citizens from potential exploitation, fraud, and legal\nvulnerabilities in other countries. Worship safely, legally, and in\naccordance with recognised procedures,\u201d he said. He continued to urge\nhis staff to remain vigilant in immigration checks during the haj\npilgrimage. Hendarsam stressed that the modernization of the immigration\nsurveillance system is designed to close gaps that allow human\ntrafficking through various modes. \u201cThe system integration across all\nour immigration checkpoints is currently able to read crossing records\nin real time,\u201d he said. If there is a suspicious subject, he continued,\nauthorities will input them as \u2018subject of interest\u2019 so other border\ngates can be on alert. Immigration has made several preventive measures\nagainst non-procedural haj departures at several airports. This time at\nKualanamu International Airport, Medan, North Sumatra. Thirteen\nIndonesian citizens are suspected of intending to perform haj\nnon-procedurally. The group attempted to depart using Malaysia Airlines\n(MH0861) bound for Kuala Lumpur. They were detained at Kualanamu\nAirport, Medan on Thursday (21\/5). To officers, the group claimed they\nwould go to Malaysia for a holiday. Officers then directed all\npassengers for further checks. Parlindungan stated that interviews\nrevealed inconsistencies in the documents held by the group of\nIndonesian citizens. \u201cInitially they claimed to be going for tourism to\nMalaysia. However, after probing, they admitted their ultimate\ndestination was Saudi Arabia to perform Haj without official\nprocedures,\u201d Parlindungan said. Head of Medan Immigration Office Uray\nAvian added that officers detected one passenger named Santo Aseano who\nis suspected of acting as on-site coordinator. Based on crossing record\ntraces, the group had previously attempted to depart through\nSoekarno-Hatta International Airport on May 10, 2026 and through Batam,\nbut were foiled by local immigration officers. The success of preventing\nnon-procedural haj pilgrim candidates at these three main Indonesian\nborder gates is the result of integration of national immigration data\nin real time. Currently, North Sumatra Regional Office of the\nDirectorate General of Immigration is coordinating with the North\nSumatra Regional Police for further handling and legal enforcement\nagainst the group coordinator. Immigration urges the public not to be\nenticed by offers of instant haj departures without official visas.\nUsing non-procedural routes poses risks to security, legal rights, and\nprotection of Indonesian citizens in Saudi Arabia. Throughout Haj 2026,\nthe Directorate General of Immigration and its staff have prevented 157\npeople from departing as non-procedural haj pilgrims.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/director-general-prevention-of-non-procedural-hajj-departures-is-a-form-of-state-protection-1779542342",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}