80 Illegal Hajj Pilgrims Prevented from Departing to Saudi Arabia, Most at Soetta

As many as 80 prospective illegal Hajj pilgrims have been successfully prevented from departing to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season. Dozens of these pilgrims were stopped at various airports. “Up to today, 80 enforcements have been carried out by immigration colleagues at several locations such as Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Kualanamu Medan, and Surabaya,” said Secretary of the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organisational Development at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Rizka Anungnata, in Jakarta on Friday (8/5). This Hajj Task Force was formed through cross-institutional collaboration involving the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, and National Police Headquarters. Its objective is to serve as a strategic instrument in ensuring pilgrim protection as well as law enforcement against violations in Hajj organisation. Hajj organisation not only concerns worship aspects but also citizen protection, national image, and international trust. “In addition to supporting the Saudi Arabian government, we are also reflecting on past experiences; every Hajj organisation has involved incidents with Indonesian citizens attempting to perform Hajj through non-procedural means,” said Rizka. Deputy Head of the Sub-Directorate for Domestic Cooperation and International Organisations, Tessar Bayu Setyaji, stated that the prevention of Indonesians suspected of intending to perform Hajj illegally is based on field identification results. “The areas where delays occurred: 57 people at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, five in Medan, 15 in Surabaya, and three in Yogyakarta,” said Tessar. According to him, this prevention demonstrates the state’s presence in protecting its citizens. Indonesian citizens must not be left stranded and become victims in Saudi Arabia, especially since only Hajj visas are permitted for entry into the Mecca region. Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Sub-Directorate III of the Traffic Directorate at National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Police Commissioner Pipit Subiyanto, added that during this Hajj operational period, police apparatus have received 95 initial reports. From dozens of reports, some have completed investigation processes while others are still in follow-up. “We are investigating the motives and methods of non-procedural Hajj. There are also cases handled by provincial police commands,” he said. He urged Indonesian citizens to perform worship in accordance with regulations, not to force travel to Saudi Arabia for non-procedural Hajj, and to comply with all government authorities. “We also urge the public to pay attention to the main matters, meaning to perform worship in accordance with rules, SOPs, and the authority of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Because all parties will be disadvantaged,” said Pipit.