Number Increases by 5 People, Total of 18 Hajj Pilgrims' Departures Postponed

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services has postponed the departure of 18 prospective non-procedural Hajj pilgrims intending to travel to Saudi Arabia until Thursday (30/4/2026). This number has increased by five people compared to the latest data on Monday (20/4/2026). “(Total up to today) 18. So there are indeed suspicions of agents involved,” said Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko at the Pullman Thamrin Hotel, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (30/4/2026). He explained that the legal handling of this case has been handed over to the police through a joint task force. “The evidence is there that some were indeed organised, but there are also those who went individually, some departing independently in a non-procedural manner,” Hendarsam stated. “But indeed, for example, one entered via Soekarno-Hatta and was rejected, then fled to Kualanamu and was rejected again, the same person. Well, this evidence has been collected and given to the task force,” he added. According to Hendarsam, the number of prospective Hajj pilgrims whose departures have been postponed has decreased compared to last year, which reached 1,243 people. “Because the public ultimately knows ‘oh, this isn’t allowed’, right? If they’re lured with promises of quick Hajj, it can’t be done like that. And because of that, they definitely can’t perform Hajj there either,” he said. Previously, on Monday, Hendarsam mentioned that the Directorate General of Immigration postponed the departure of 13 prospective non-procedural Hajj pilgrims intending to depart for Saudi Arabia via Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Hendarsam explained that this step is not to hinder the public from performing Hajj worship, but rather as a form of protection so they do not face risks in the Holy Land. According to him, based on previous experience, pilgrims who depart without official procedures cannot perform Hajj worship in Saudi Arabia, and they even risk taking illegal routes that could endanger their safety.