Polri to Focus on Eradicating Illegal Hajj in Hajj Task Force

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) will focus on eradicating illegal Hajj within the Hajj Task Force established by the police in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj). Polri’s Head of Public Relations, Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir, stated in Jakarta on Wednesday that Polri’s other focuses in this task force include protecting pilgrims from scams, ensuring security and order, and uncovering rogue travel networks. “Polri’s assignment is integrated to ensure that the Hajj implementation runs safely, orderly, and free from illegal practices,” he said. Johnny explained that in its implementation, Polri will carry out preemptive, preventive, and repressive functions (law enforcement) to address illegal Hajj issues. On the preemptive function, he revealed that Polri will build efforts to raise public awareness by educating on the dangers of illegal or non-procedural Hajj, socialising for pilgrims to only Hajj through official channels, and providing legal counselling on travel scams. “Polri synergises with the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and local governments,” he said. Then, on the preventive function, he continued, Polri will monitor Hajj travel agencies by overseeing travel bureaus, detecting travel packages offering Hajj without queuing, and gathering intelligence on syndicates. “Preventing illegal Hajj by thwarting prospective pilgrims with inappropriate visas in operations ahead of the Hajj season,” he stated. Not only that, Polri will also secure the departure of pilgrims at embarkation and debarkation points. Finally, on the repressive function, he said Polri will take action if violations occur, based on Law No. 8 of 2019 on the Organisation of Hajj and Umrah Worship as well as the Criminal Code on Fraud and Embezzlement. The violations to be addressed include illegal travel agencies, pilgrim scams, and document forgery. “With this approach, Polri becomes the main guard in ensuring that Hajj runs safely, lawfully, and in accordance with regulations,” he said.