BANDUNG, PRFMNEWS – In the past week, Saudi Arabian security authorities arrested 10 Indonesian citizens (WNI) involved in illegal Hajj practices and sacrificial animal fraud for prospective pilgrims.
This was announced by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj). Based on information from the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, in the past week, 10 Indonesian citizens were arrested in Saudi Arabia because they were suspected of being involved in the promotion and practice of buying and selling “instant” Hajj.
Apart from Indonesian citizens, similar action was also carried out by Saudi Arabian authorities against a number of other foreign nationals who were indicated to have violated the Hajj permit regulations.
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The Indonesian government has officially declared its full support for Saudi Arabia’s policy entitled La Haj bila Tasrih, or the prohibition on performing the Hajj without official permission.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Haj, Maria Assegaff, said the government fully supports Saudi Arabia’s policy.
“The Indonesian government fully supports Saudi Arabia’s policy, La Haj if Tasrih, or no Hajj without official permission. If there are Indonesian citizens facing legal proceedings, we will completely hand over the handling to the legal authorities of Saudi Arabia. The Indonesian government will not intervene,” said Maria as quoted as saying prfmnews.id from the official website of the Ministry of Haj, Wednesday, May 6 2026.
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Maria also said that this firm step did not only target prospective pilgrims, but also the parties who were the masterminds behind this illegal practice.
Meanwhile, domestically, the Illegal Hajj Task Force involving the Ministry of Hajj, Polri, and the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections continues to carry out prevention at strategic departure points.
“Illegal Hajj Task Force operations have thwarted a number of departures suspected of being related to illegal Hajj. This is a form of state presence to protect the public from fraud and exploitation under the guise of Hajj departures,” said Maria.
The Ministry of Haj appealed to the public not to be tempted by offers to perform the Hajj without queuing through illegal routes because it risks financial loss and could result in criminal sanctions, deportation, and even a ban on entering Saudi Arabia for up to 10 years.
“The Hajj pilgrimage must be carried out in a legal, safe, orderly manner and according to the rules. If you find indications of fraud or illegal Hajj practices, immediately report it to the police,” said Maria.
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Maria also explained that to date 219 groups with 85,039 pilgrims and 873 officers have arrived in Medina.
Meanwhile, 68 groups with 26,037 pilgrims and 272 officers have moved to Makkah to carry out the mandatory Umrah and prepare for the peak of the Hajj.
From the health side, 10,746 pilgrims were recorded as outpatients, 139 pilgrims were referred to KKHI, and 208 pilgrims were referred to hospitals in Saudi Arabia, with 76 people still under treatment. ***
