PPIH Medan: Hajj pilgrims must strictly adhere to Saudi Arabian Kingdom's regulations

Medan (ANTARA) - The Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) for the Medan Embarkation has reminded prospective Hajj pilgrims from North Sumatra to firmly adhere to the regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while performing the Hajj pilgrimage in the Holy Land.

“Yesterday, there was a real incident involving pilgrims from another region. He recorded a video of an Arab woman, lasting only 15 seconds. But the consequences were very severe,” said the Chairman of the PPIH Medan Embarkation, Zulkifli Sitorus, after seeing off 360 prospective pilgrims from Batch 15 of the Medan Embarkation at the Medan Hajj Hostel on Saturday.

He said that the prospective pilgrim from another region in Indonesia was subsequently arrested by Saudi authorities.

The pilgrim was then fined up to hundreds of Saudi Riyals, and the Saudi authorities immediately repatriated him to his home country.

“Fined up to 500 Saudi Riyals. The prospective pilgrim was finally deported back to his home country. He did not get to complete his Hajj pilgrimage,” he said.

“The main point emphasised is the strict prohibition on taking photos or recording videos indiscriminately in public places. Safeguard Indonesia’s good name in the Holy Land,” he added.

The Deputy Regent of Deli Serdang, Lom Lom Suwondo, said that 562 prospective pilgrims from the region were dispatched to the Holy Land for this year’s Hajj season.

“So, these 360 pilgrims from Batch 15 of the Medan Embarkation represent the final batch. Previously, 208 prospective pilgrims had been dispatched in several batches to the Holy Land,” he said.

The Deli Serdang Regency Government continues to request an increase in the Hajj quota due to the long waiting list of 16,855 people, or an average of 26 years, including ongoing approaches or persuasion and communication efforts with the central government through the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs.

“All the people of Deli Serdang, we ask for your patience. Hopefully, the opportunity to perform Hajj will open wide, and the quota will increase,” he said.

His side also hopes that prospective pilgrims from Deli Serdang who depart to perform the Hajj can carry out the pillars and obligations of Hajj without obstacles in the Holy Land.

“As the regency government, we pray that all pilgrims can perform the Hajj pilgrimage perfectly. Depart healthy, and return healthy,” said Lom Lom.