Hajj Pilgrim Deaths Decline in 2026, but DPR Highlights Screening Failures

The number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims who died during the 2026 pilgrimage season has decreased compared to the previous year. However, Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) has highlighted critical shortcomings, suggesting that the health screening process still has gaps that allowed unfit pilgrims to depart.

Member of Commission VIII DPR RI, Hasan Basri Agus, stated that field monitoring revealed cases of pilgrims whose physical condition was less than ideal yet they were still cleared to travel to the Holy Land. “Regarding this istithaah issue, although the number of deaths in 2026 has decreased compared to last year, there were still some who slipped through the net,” Hasan said during a Hearing Meeting with KBIHU officials from Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and East Java at the Nusantara II Building, Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (6/7/2026).

Hasan suspects a lack of thoroughness by medical teams at the regional level in verifying the health status of prospective pilgrims. As a result, some pilgrims with high health risks were still dispatched without adequate supervision. “This may be due to a lack of thoroughness by health officials in their respective regions. This is also a point for our future evaluation,” he added.

He also urged the Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups (KBIHU) to tighten supervision and assistance in the field, extending help not only to their own group members but also to independent elderly pilgrims who require physical and logistical support during their stay in Saudi Arabia.

Previously, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf confirmed that 350 Indonesian pilgrims died during the 2026 Hajj season. While this figure represents a reduction of more than 100 compared to the previous year, he acknowledged that the number was still significant. “Although this is not a satisfying achievement, we are grateful for the decrease. Next year, we will immediately tighten and strengthen the istithaah health requirements for our pilgrims,” the Minister stated upon welcoming the return of Hajj officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, on Tuesday (23/6/2026).