Indonesian Pilgrim Arrested for Filming Woman Without Permission, Professor Niam Urges Responsible Social Media Use
High volatility is still likely to continue until the end of May.
An Indonesian pilgrim has reportedly had to deal with Saudi Arabian security authorities after being caught filming a woman without permission in a public area. This incident serves as a stern warning to all pilgrims to be more careful and responsible in using social media and electronic devices while in the Holy Land.
The Saudi Arabian government is known for having very strict regulations regarding privacy, especially those involving women and sensitive areas around the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. Violations of these rules can lead to arrest, large fines, and even deportation and blacklisting.
In response to the incident, Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Fatwa Affairs, who also serves in the Hajj monitoring team, Prof. Dr. KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh, reminded Indonesian pilgrims to focus on worship and respect local laws. He emphasized the importance of digital ethics or “responsible social media use” while in a foreign country.
“Pilgrims must understand that the rules in Saudi Arabia highly uphold privacy. Taking pictures or videos of other people, especially women, without permission is a serious legal violation here. Let’s focus on the core of the Hajj pilgrimage and avoid activities that could harm ourselves,” said Prof. Niam in a statement.
The Saudi Arabian authorities use sophisticated CCTV surveillance systems and plainclothes security personnel to monitor order in the holy areas.
To avoid legal problems while performing the Hajj pilgrimage, pilgrims are advised to pay attention to the following points regarding documentation:
The Ministry of Religion, through Hajj officials on the ground, continues to conduct massive socialization to pilgrims in each group. Pilgrims are asked not to be too busy creating excessive social media content (such as TikTok or Instagram Reels), especially if the content involves other people unintentionally.
Prof. Niam added that maintaining one’s dignity and respecting the traditions and laws of Saudi Arabia is part of the perfection of the Hajj pilgrimage. “Don’t let the sacred intention to worship be disturbed by legal matters simply because of a lack of digital literacy and ignorance of local rules,” he concluded.
The identity of the pilgrim and the exact location of the detention are currently being verified by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Jeddah to provide further legal assistance.