Government's Strategy to Combat Illegal Hajj: Establish Task Force, Tighten Supervision

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The government is preparing several measures to prevent illegal Hajj practices ahead of the 2026 Hajj departure, which could harm pilgrims. Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, stated that the government successfully prevented around 1,200 people from departing using non-Hajj visas in 2025. In line with instructions from President Prabowo Subianto, the government is targeting stricter supervision this year, including prevention at airports in cooperation with police and immigration at every airport. One strategy pursued by the government to prevent illegal Hajj is the formation of a Hajj Task Force by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah together with the Indonesian National Police. Dahnil said the Hajj Task Force was established to strengthen the protection of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims while firmly addressing illegal practices. The discovery of 1,200 non-visa Hajj departures has become a serious concern for the government because it has the potential to harm pilgrims and disrupt the governance of Hajj pilgrimage arrangements. “We are committed to preventing similar practices from recurring, especially through tight supervision at the country’s exit points,” said Dahnil. Dahnil mentioned that due to the proliferation of fraud cases by rogue Hajj and Umrah travel agents harming the public, the government finally formed this Task Force together with the National Police. He also assured that there would be firm legal action against parties involved in illegal Hajj. “There isn’t any, so this year Saudi Arabia is not issuing furoda Hajj visas. So, clearly, the legal visa is called a Hajj visa,” said Dahnil. He reminded the public to be wary of Hajj departure offers that appear on social media. Together with the National Police, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will crack down on all forms of modus operandi for non-procedural, alias illegal, Hajj departures. “That’s what we want to prevent. So if it keeps recurring, then automatically the police will take criminal action, that’s a fraud modus operandi,” he said.