{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1843783,
        "msgid": "hajj-pilgrim-deaths-decline-in-2026-but-dpr-highlights-screening-failures-1783345986",
        "date": "2026-07-06 20:00:00",
        "title": "Hajj Pilgrim Deaths Decline in 2026, but DPR Highlights Screening Failures",
        "author": "Muhammad Hafil",
        "source": "REPUBLIKA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "The number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims who died during the 2026 season fell by over 100 compared to the previous year, totalling 350. Despite the decrease, the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII has raised concerns about lapses in the health screening process, noting that some physically unfit pilgrims were still cleared for travel. The government has pledged to tighten the 'istithaah' health eligibility checks for future Hajj seasons.",
        "content": "<p>The number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims who died during the 2026\npilgrimage season has decreased compared to the previous year. However,\nCommission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) has highlighted\ncritical shortcomings, suggesting that the health screening process\nstill has gaps that allowed unfit pilgrims to depart.<\/p>\n<p>Member of Commission VIII DPR RI, Hasan Basri Agus, stated that field\nmonitoring revealed cases of pilgrims whose physical condition was less\nthan ideal yet they were still cleared to travel to the Holy Land.\n\u201cRegarding this istithaah issue, although the number of deaths in 2026\nhas decreased compared to last year, there were still some who slipped\nthrough the net,\u201d Hasan said during a Hearing Meeting with KBIHU\nofficials from Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and East Java at the\nNusantara II Building, Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (6\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n<p>Hasan suspects a lack of thoroughness by medical teams at the\nregional level in verifying the health status of prospective pilgrims.\nAs a result, some pilgrims with high health risks were still dispatched\nwithout adequate supervision. \u201cThis may be due to a lack of thoroughness\nby health officials in their respective regions. This is also a point\nfor our future evaluation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>He also urged the Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups (KBIHU) to tighten\nsupervision and assistance in the field, extending help not only to\ntheir own group members but also to independent elderly pilgrims who\nrequire physical and logistical support during their stay in Saudi\nArabia.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf confirmed\nthat 350 Indonesian pilgrims died during the 2026 Hajj season. While\nthis figure represents a reduction of more than 100 compared to the\nprevious year, he acknowledged that the number was still significant.\n\u201cAlthough this is not a satisfying achievement, we are grateful for the\ndecrease. Next year, we will immediately tighten and strengthen the\nistithaah health requirements for our pilgrims,\u201d the Minister stated\nupon welcoming the return of Hajj officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport,\nTangerang, on Tuesday (23\/6\/2026).<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hajj-pilgrim-deaths-decline-in-2026-but-dpr-highlights-screening-failures-1783345986",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}