A Hajj pilgrim from the city of Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)\nwas barred by Saudi Immigration and immediately returned to Indonesia.\nThe male pilgrim, aged around 60, was barred for security reasons by\nlocal authorities.<\/p>\n
The Head of the NTB Provincial Office of the Ministry of Hajj and\nUmrah (Kemenhaj), Lalu Muhammad Amin, stated that the pilgrim was from\nCluster 5 of Mataram City. The pilgrim departed on Monday (27 April\n2026) and has returned to Indonesia on the same flight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis serves as a concern and education for all NTB residents. The\nkey point is that all processes carried out by the Ministry of Hajj and\nUmrah are already optimal in accordance with the applicable provisions\nand procedures,\u201d Amin said when met at his office on Friday (1 May\n2026).<\/p>\n
The pilgrim was sent to the Holy Land after going through stages and\nstandard operating procedures (SOP) implemented in Indonesia. However,\nthe pilgrim was not permitted to enter Saudi Arabia purely because of\nmatters under the authority of Saudi Immigration.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, immigration holds the authority regarding permission to enter\nSaudi Arabia. The reason for the rejection is a security reason from\nSaudi authorities. Security reasons can vary,\u201d Amin explained.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the NTB Kemenhaj did not disclose the pilgrim\u2019s\nidentity for humanitarian reasons. It is known that the pilgrim departed\nwith his wife.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is clear is that the individual departed with his wife,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Based on information from Hajj officials in Saudi Arabia, the pilgrim\nhad performed Umrah in 2017 and is suspected of violating rules by\nattempting to stay to perform Hajj in the same year. Currently, his real\nidentity was detected through the biometric system, so the previously\nimposed sanction applies again.<\/p>\n
\u201cThus, there was an attempt to change identity there. Now, using his\nreal identity, his fingerprints were detected, showing a sanction\nprohibiting entry for the period determined by Saudi authorities,\u201d Amin\nemphasised.<\/p>\n
Due to this violation, the pilgrim was banned by the Saudi government\nfor 10 years starting from 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe from the Ministry of Hajj will continue to provide the best\nservice to any pilgrim because that is our obligation,\u201d Amin\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Currently, the pilgrim has returned to his family. This barring case\nalso serves as attention for all so that all pilgrims obey and adhere to\nall existing regulations, both in Indonesia and in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that is the right of the authorities of each local immigration.\nWhen he returns from his country, he is free to enter and exit.\nAccording to the procedures. But in another country, it is not known\nthat there was an issue that was done before. Thus, it becomes the\nauthority of each local immigration, including us here,\u201d Amin\nstressed.<\/p>\n
2,722 Have Arrived in the Holy Land<\/p>\n
Amin stated that 2,723 Hajj pilgrims from NTB have been sent to the\nHoly Land through the Hajj Dormitory of Lombok Embarkation. This number\nis the accumulation from seven flight clusters (kloter) sent in stages\nto Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Based on the report from the Hajj Service Officials (PPIH) of Lombok\nEmbarkation as of 30 April 2026, all pilgrims were sent together with 28\naccompanying officers, making a total of 2,750 people. The entire\ndeparture process ran smoothly without any empty seats (open seat).<\/p>\n
\u201cUp to the 10th day, seven clusters with a total of 2,722 pilgrims\nhave been sent to the Holy Land,\u201d Amin said.<\/p>\n
He emphasised that there were no significant obstacles during the\ndeparture process. All flight seats were fully occupied, so all pilgrims\ncould be sent according to schedule.<\/p>\n
For cluster 8, 393 from West Lombok Regency have been sent from the\nHajj Dormitory of Lombok Embarkation at 10:00 WITA to Lombok\nInternational Airport to be flown to the Holy Land.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hajj-pilgrim-from-mataram-barred-by-saudi-arabia-due-to-past-rule-violation-1777614810", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }