Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Strengthens Supervision and Enforcement to Prevent Non-Procedural Hajj

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) is strengthening supervision and enforcement to prevent non-procedural Hajj practices while maintaining order, security, and safety for pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

Head of the Public Relations Bureau of Kemenhaj, Moh Hasan Afandi, stated that the government supports the Saudi Arabian government’s “No Hajj Without Permission” campaign to ensure all pilgrims perform the pilgrimage in accordance with regulations.

“We fully support the Saudi Arabian government’s campaign, ‘No Hajj Without Permission’. Hajj must be conducted through official channels and using Hajj visas so that the pilgrimage proceeds orderly, safely, and without posing legal risks to the pilgrims,” he said at the Hajj Media Centre in Jakarta on Saturday.

Kemenhaj, together with the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, has established a Task Force for Preventing Illegal Hajj to bolster supervision and enforcement.

From 18 April to 1 May 2026, he said immigration officers prevented the departure of 42 prospective non-procedural Hajj pilgrims.

He emphasised that using non-Hajj visas, such as work, pilgrimage, visit, or transit visas for performing Hajj, violates Saudi Arabian government regulations.

The penalties imposed are not light, ranging from refusal of entry to Mecca and the areas of Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina, fines, deportation, to a 10-year ban on entering Saudi Arabia.

Law enforcement also applies to parties organising, offering, or facilitating illegal Hajj.

“We urge the public not to be tempted by offers of Hajj without queuing through illegal means. Report to the police if there are parties offering or organising non-procedural Hajj departures,” Hasan concluded.