Parliamentary Commission Urges Government to Protect 58,000 Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims Affected by US-Israel-Iran Conflict

Jakarta – Abidin Fikri, deputy chair of Commission VIII of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI), has urged the government to take immediate concrete action to protect the safety of approximately 58,000 Indonesian hajj pilgrims stranded at various airports due to escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

He assessed that the closure of Middle Eastern airspace following the military escalation has caused massive flight delays, leaving pilgrims in vulnerable conditions without logistical certainty and clarity regarding their return to Indonesia.

“The government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and the Ministry of Transport, must conduct intensive coordination to map affected pilgrims and provide emergency accommodation and logistical support,” said Abidin Fikri in a written statement on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.

The politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) emphasised that alternative flight route arrangements must be implemented as a contingency measure, with staged evacuation plans should the conflict escalate further and endanger Indonesian nationals performing umrah in Saudi Arabia.

Abidin Fikri stressed that the protection of Indonesian citizens is the state’s primary responsibility, as mandated by the constitution.

“Commission VIII will continue to closely monitor and track developments in the Middle East conflict and will strictly ensure the safety of hajj pilgrims as they return safely to the homeland,” said Abidin.

“The government must be fully present and not abandon stranded pilgrims. We also urge pilgrims and travel agencies organising umrah to remain calm and follow the instructions of the Indonesian Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he added.