Hajj Pilgrim from Mataram Barred by Saudi Arabia Due to Past Rule Violation
A Hajj pilgrim from the city of Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) was barred by Saudi Immigration and immediately returned to Indonesia. The male pilgrim, aged around 60, was barred for security reasons by local authorities.
The Head of the NTB Provincial Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj), Lalu Muhammad Amin, stated that the pilgrim was from Cluster 5 of Mataram City. The pilgrim departed on Monday (27 April 2026) and has returned to Indonesia on the same flight.
“This serves as a concern and education for all NTB residents. The key point is that all processes carried out by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah are already optimal in accordance with the applicable provisions and procedures,” Amin said when met at his office on Friday (1 May 2026).
The pilgrim was sent to the Holy Land after going through stages and standard operating procedures (SOP) implemented in Indonesia. However, the pilgrim was not permitted to enter Saudi Arabia purely because of matters under the authority of Saudi Immigration.
“So, immigration holds the authority regarding permission to enter Saudi Arabia. The reason for the rejection is a security reason from Saudi authorities. Security reasons can vary,” Amin explained.
Nevertheless, the NTB Kemenhaj did not disclose the pilgrim’s identity for humanitarian reasons. It is known that the pilgrim departed with his wife.
“What is clear is that the individual departed with his wife,” he said.
Based on information from Hajj officials in Saudi Arabia, the pilgrim had performed Umrah in 2017 and is suspected of violating rules by attempting to stay to perform Hajj in the same year. Currently, his real identity was detected through the biometric system, so the previously imposed sanction applies again.
“Thus, there was an attempt to change identity there. Now, using his real identity, his fingerprints were detected, showing a sanction prohibiting entry for the period determined by Saudi authorities,” Amin emphasised.
Due to this violation, the pilgrim was banned by the Saudi government for 10 years starting from 2017.
“We from the Ministry of Hajj will continue to provide the best service to any pilgrim because that is our obligation,” Amin explained.
Currently, the pilgrim has returned to his family. This barring case also serves as attention for all so that all pilgrims obey and adhere to all existing regulations, both in Indonesia and in Saudi Arabia.
“So that is the right of the authorities of each local immigration. When he returns from his country, he is free to enter and exit. According to the procedures. But in another country, it is not known that there was an issue that was done before. Thus, it becomes the authority of each local immigration, including us here,” Amin stressed.
2,722 Have Arrived in the Holy Land
Amin stated that 2,723 Hajj pilgrims from NTB have been sent to the Holy Land through the Hajj Dormitory of Lombok Embarkation. This number is the accumulation from seven flight clusters (kloter) sent in stages to Saudi Arabia.
Based on the report from the Hajj Service Officials (PPIH) of Lombok Embarkation as of 30 April 2026, all pilgrims were sent together with 28 accompanying officers, making a total of 2,750 people. The entire departure process ran smoothly without any empty seats (open seat).
“Up to the 10th day, seven clusters with a total of 2,722 pilgrims have been sent to the Holy Land,” Amin said.
He emphasised that there were no significant obstacles during the departure process. All flight seats were fully occupied, so all pilgrims could be sent according to schedule.
For cluster 8, 393 from West Lombok Regency have been sent from the Hajj Dormitory of Lombok Embarkation at 10:00 WITA to Lombok International Airport to be flown to the Holy Land.