Middle East conflict: DPR warns on the security of independent Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

Independent Umrah pilgrims’ safety must be monitored, says Selly Andriany Gantina, a member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, in a statement from Cirebon, West Java, on Wednesday. ‘What must be monitored is the whereabouts of independent Umrah pilgrims,’ she said. She noted that their departure and return patterns differ, so their status should be a concern, as some may return home through transit countries rather than via a direct flight to Indonesia. ‘They may not return by a direct flight to Indonesia, but depart via transit countries,’ she added. The DPR is currently coordinating with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) to advocate for the 58,000 pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The coordination should be administrative and accompanied by concrete steps to ensure pilgrims’ protection and safe repatriation. In addition, she urged Kemenhaj to anticipate accommodation and logistics needs if there are delays in repatriation. ‘Thus, inevitably, Kemenhaj must also conduct screenings of the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia,’ Selly said. She revealed that, according to the latest data, about 6,000 pilgrims have been repatriated to Indonesia. Selly added that the government will keep updating information regularly and urged the public to postpone Umrah travel until conditions in the Middle East are fully safe. ‘The most important thing is to urge Indonesian Umrah pilgrims to wait or refrain from departing,’ Selly Andriany Gantina said.