Minister Of Religion: Hopefully Indonesian Congregations Can Immediately Cure Longing For The Holy Land

Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Photo via Ministry of Religion)

JAKARTA - The working visit of the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to Saudi Arabia was not in vain. Yaqut Cholil Qoumas brings happy news. Saudi Arabia's aviation authority has updated its international flight rules. Starting December 1, 2021, flights from Indonesia can go directly to Saudi Arabia.

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas welcomed the new rules issued by the Saudi Arabian aviation authority, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), dated November 25, 2021.

"Alhamdulillah, before returning from a working visit from Saudi Arabia, I received official information that starting at one o'clock in the morning, on Wednesday December 1, 2021, Indonesian citizens were allowed to enter Saudi Arabia without having to go through a third country for 14 days," explained the Minister of Religion. at King Abdul Aziz International Airport Jeddah, ahead of his return to Indonesia, Thursday (11/25/2021) night.

"There is no longer a requirement for a booster, but we still have to comply with health protocols (prokes) by undergoing an institutional quarantine for five days. This must be obeyed and become a common concern," he continued.

Besides Indonesia, said the Minister of Religion, there are five other countries that have also received Saudi entry permits, namely: Pakistan, Brazil, India, Vietnam, and Egypt.

The flight ban or suspension has been imposed by Saudi Arabia on Indonesia and a number of other countries since February 2021. This provision was updated at the end of August 2021. Flights from Indonesia are allowed directly to Saudi Arabia, but only for people who have a residence permit in Saudi Arabia, either a believer or an expatriate.

"Hopefully this will also be good news for Indonesian Umrah pilgrims whose departure has been delayed since February 2021. Hopefully, Indonesian pilgrims can immediately cure their longing to go to the Holy Land. However, health protocols must be disciplined according to Saudi Arabia's provisions," he said.

Gus Minister, the nickname of the Minister of Religion Yaqut, appreciated the quick response of the Saudi Arabian authorities to the discussions he had carried out on several matters in Jeddah and Makkah, both with the Minister of Islamic Religious Affairs, Da'wah, and Counseling Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Makkah Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud, as well as the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia HE Tawfiq F. Al-Rabiah.

"In every opportunity, I convey to them about Indonesia's readiness in organizing Umrah during the pandemic. I have asked the Director General for the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah with the Ministry of Religion team to prepare a scenario and technical implementation which will be discussed together with the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdulfatah Suliman Hashat with his staff," said the Minister of Religion.

The Minister of Religion also expressed his appreciation for the remarks of the Minister of Islamic Religious Affairs, Da'wah, and Counseling, Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz. The Minister of Religion arrived in Saudi Arabia on November 19, 2021 and was greeted by Sheikh Abdullatif at King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah. The return of Gus Minister on November 25 through the same airport was also accompanied by Sheikh Abdullatif directly.

According to the Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah, Eko Hartono, this welcome was extraordinary.

"The arrival of Gus Minister received an extraordinary response. Because his arrival was immediately welcomed by the Minister of Islamic Affairs. Likewise, his return was accompanied by Sheikh Abdullatif," said the Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah, Eko Hartono.